3  1822017193442 


LIBRARY 


CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DfEGO 


ERSITYOF 


;AUFORNJA  SAN  DIEGO 


I  1 822  01719  3442     R 


Central  University  Library 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 
Please  Note:  This  item  is  subject  to  recall. 

Date  Due 
NOV  2  2 1995 
JUN  ?  6  1M5 


Cl  39  (7/93) 


UCSD  Li). 


THE  NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS 

AND  PLATFORMS  OF  ALL 

POLITICAL  PARTIES 


THE  NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS 
AND  PLATFORMS  OF  ALL  .  . 
POLITICAL  PARTIES  . 

1789  to  1905 

CONVENTION,  POPULAR, 
AND   ELECTORAL  VOTE. 


Also  (he  Political  Complexion  of  both  Houses  of  Congress  at  each 
biennial  period. 


BY 

THOMAS  HUDSON  McKEE. 


SIXTH  EDITION, 
.  .  REVISED  .  . 
AND  ENLARGED. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  FRIEDENWALD  COMPANY, 

BALTIMORE,  MD.,  U.  S.  A. 
1906 


ENTERED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS  IN  THE  YEAR  1900 

BY  THOMAS  HUDSON  McKEE, 

IN  THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  LIBRARIAN  OF  CONGRESS, 
AT  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


COPYRIGHT,  1901,   BY  THOMAS  HUDSON  McKEE. 


BALTIMORE.   IV  D. 


PREFACE. 

This,  the  latest  and  thoroughly  revised  and 
greatly  enlarged  edition  of  "  The  National  Con- 
ventions and  Platforms  of  All  Political  Parties," 
has  been  made  as  complete  and  reliable  as  pos- 
sible ;  and  to  this  end  all  available  records  have 
been  searched  for  useful  and  confirmatory  infor- 
mation ;  but  some  things  connected  with  the 
earlier  presidential  campaigns  are  lost,  so  far  as 
either  official  or  newspaper  record  of  them  is 
concerned. 

Into  this  little  volume  have  been  gathered 
such  of  the  most  important  things  referring  to 
presidential  campaigns  as  are  likely  to  prove 
needful  to  public  men  in  their  political  work. 
Very  many  of  the  names  and  incidents  recited 
are  not  matters  of  public  history,  but  are  culled 
from  the  almost  forgotten  things  connected  with 
national  conventions  and  elections. 

An  Appendix  of  useful  information  and  an 
exhaustive  Index  add  greatly  to  the  value  of  the 
work. 

Confident  that  it  will  prove  helpful  to  students 
of  political  history  and  to  all  others  desiring 
information  on  public  questions,  it  is  submitted 
to  the  consideration  of  the  public. 

T.  H.  McK. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Conventions  and  Platforms. 

FADE 

ELECTION  OP  1789. * 2 

ELECTION  OF  1792 4 

ELECTION  OF  1796 , , , . , .         6 

ELECTION  OF  1800 8 

ELECTION  OF  1804 , 10 

ELECTION  OF  1808 12 

ELECTION  OF  1812 , 14 

ELECTION  OF  1816 .,.     16 

ELECTION  OF  1820 , 18 

ELECTION  OF  1824 , , 20 

ELECTION  OF  1828 . . . . , 24 

ELECTION  OF  1832 0 27 

ELECTION  OF  1836 , 84 

ELECTION  OF  1840 , 40 

ELECTION  OF  1844 .,.».. i. 47 

ELECTION  OF  1848 4.,    58 

ELECTION  OF  1852 ....,, , 74 

ELECTION  OF  1856 87 

ELECTION  OF  1860 8 , 106 

ELECTION  OF  1864 , .121 

ELECTION  OF  1868 , 131 

ELECTION  OF  1872 .'. , . . .  143 

ELECTION  OF  1876 „ 162 

ELECTION  OF  1880 ,.,..., , 182 

ELECTION  OF  1S34. . , ., SCI 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

PAG* 

ELECTION  OF  1888 232 

ELECTION  OF  1892 260 

ELECTION  OF  1896 290 

ELECTION  OF  1900 330 

ELECTION  OF  1904 382 

Appendix. 

FORMATION  OF  NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS 1 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTIONS 2 

REPUBLICAN  CONVENTIONS 2 

OTHER  CONVENTIONS 3 

PRESIDENTIAL  SUCCESSION  IN  OFFICE 4 

MODE  OF  COUNTING  THE  ELECTORAL  VOTE 5 

FIRST  EVENTS 12 

LIST  OF  PRESIDENTS  AND  VICE-PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED 

STATES 13 

NUMBER  OF  DELEGATES  IN  NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS 14 

Index. 

GENERAL  INDEX. 

INDEX  OF  NAMES. 

SUBJECT  INDEX  TO  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL  VOTE,  ELECTION  OF  1904 „„ .LAST 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1789 

No  CONVENTION.       No  PLATFORMS.       No  NOMINATIONS. 

The  first  presidential  election  occurred  in  the  states 
which  ratified  the  Constitution  on  the  first  Wednesday  of 
January,  the  7th,  1789,  and  on  the  first  Wednesday  of 
February  following  the  electors  made  choice  for  President 
and  Vice-President. 

The  selection  of  candidates  to  be  voted  for  by  the  electors 
chosen  included  Washington,  but  no  agreement  was  reached 
as  to  what  candidates  were  to  be  voted  for.  The  names  of 
those  voted  for  are  given  in  the  table  below. 

TEN"  STATES  ONLY  VOTED,  Rhode  Island,  North  Carolina, 
and  New  York  not  voting  at  this  election. 

Electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislatures  in  Connecticut, 
Delaware,  Georgia,  New  Jersey,  and  South  Carolina. 


ELECTION  OF  1789. 


The  result  of  the  vote,  as  counted  on  April  6,  1789,  was 
as  follows : 


STATES. 

George  Washington, 
of  Virginia. 

John  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

•a 

o 

*! 

!« 

>-» 

Kobert  H.  Harrison, 
of  Maryland. 

John  Kutledge, 
of  South  Carolina. 

John  Hancock, 
of  Massachusetts. 

George  Clinton, 
of  New  York. 

Samuel  Huntington, 
of  Connecticut. 

John  Milton, 
of  Georgia. 

James  Armstrong, 
of  Georgia. 

Benjamin  Lincoln, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Edward  Telfair, 
of  Georgia. 

Vacancies. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Connecticut  .... 

7 

r> 

2 

7 

Delaware  

3 

3 

<t 

Georgia  

5 

<? 

1 

1 

1 

5 

Maryland  

6 

3 

2 

H 

Massachusetts.  . 

10 

in 

in 

New  Hampshire 

5 

5 

5 

<; 

1 

5 

6 

Pennsylvania  .  .  • 

1O 

8 

9 

in 

South  Carolina.  . 

7 

3 

1 

7 

Virginia  

in 

5 

1 

1 

a 

g 

17 

Total  

i;:i 

?M 

0 

6 

0 

4 

8 

0 

9 

1 

1 

1 

4 

73 

NOTE. — The  voting  at  this  time  by  the  electors  was  according  to 
the  old  clause  of  the  Constitution  (art.  II,  sec.  2),  which  required 
the  electors  to  vote  for  two  persons,  the  one  receiving  the  majority 
to  be  President,  and  the  one  receiving  the  next  greatest  number  to 
be  Vice-President. 

The  President  elect  and  Vice-President  elect  were  notified 
of  their  election  by  special  messengers  of  the  Senate. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

First  Congress. 

Senate— 26  Federalists Total,  26 

House — 53  Federalists,  12  Democrats "       65 

Second  Congress. 

Senate — 17  Federalists,  13  Democrats Total,  30 

House — 55  Federalists,  14  Democrats "       69 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1792* 

No  CONVENTIONS.      No  PLATFORMS.      No  NOMINATIONS. 

Party  organization  had  just  begun.  Those  acting  under 
the  general  name  of  Anti-Federalists,  although  having 
many  minor  differences,  were  now  (spring  of  1792)  united 
into  one  party,  taking  the  name  of  Democratic- Republican. 

The  Federalist  and  Democratic-Republicans  both 
supported  President  Washington  for  a  second  term. 

For  Vice-President,  the  Federalists  supported 
John  Adams,  of  Massachusetts. 

The  Democratic-Republicans  supported  George 
Clinton,  of  New  York. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  6,  1792. 

FIFTEEN  STATES  VOTED. 

Electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislatures  in  Connecticut, 
Delaware,  Georgia,  Kentucky,  New  Jersey,  New  York, 
Rhode  Island,  South  Carolina,  and  Vermont. 

*  Previous  to  the  election  in  1792,  Congress  passed  an  act  (March  1, 1792) 
regulating  the  holding  of  elections  for  the  selection  of  President  and  Vice- 
President,  which  act  fixed  the  succession  in  the  office  in  case  of  death  or 
disability. 


ELECTION  OF  1792. 


The  vote,  as  counted  on  February  13,  1793,  resulted  as 
follows: 


STATES. 

George  Washington, 
of  Virginia. 

John  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

OM 

Q  M 

•*->  o 

•SjS 

5^ 

<D  ® 

1; 

So 

o 

Thomas  Jefferson, 
of  Virginia. 

jj 

,o 

&>< 

fis 

IS 

si  o 
•< 

g 

9 

Delaware  

3 

3 

Georgia  

4 

4 

K  entucky  

4 

4 

g 

8 

Massachusetts  

16 

16 

6 

G 

New  Jersey  

7 

7 

12 

12 

12 

12 

15 

14 

1 

4 

4 

South  Carolina  

8 

7 

1 

3 

3 

Virginia  

21 

21 

Total  

132 

77 

50 

4 

1 

9 
3 
4 
4 

1O 

16 

6 

7 

12 

12 

15 

4 

8 

4 

21 


135 


NOTE. — The  voting  at  this  time  by  the  electors  was  according  to 
the  old  clause  of  the  Constitution  (art.  II,  sec.  2),  which  required 
the  electors  to  vote  for  two  persons,  the  one  receiving  the  majority 
to  be  President,  and  the  one  receiving  the  next  greatest  number  to 
be  Vice-President. 

George  Washington  was  elected  President  and  John 
Adams  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Third  Congress. 

Senate— 18  Federalists,  12  Democrats Total,    30 

House  —  51  Federalists,  54  Democrats "       105 

Fourth  Congress. 
Senate— 19  Federalists,  13  Democrats Total,    32 


House — 46  Federalists,  59  Democrats 


105 


6  NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Election  of  1796 

No  CONVENTIONS.      No  PLATFORMS.      No  NOMINATIONS. 

The  Republicans,  now  organized,  rallied  in  an  effort  to 
defeat  the  Federalists.  It  was  late  in  the  year  before  the 
Farewell  Address  of  Washington  was  made  public.  (It 
was  dated  September  17,  1796.)  Without  either  caucus  or 
convention  the  candidates  had  been  already  designated  by 
popular  agreement. 

The  Democratic-Republicans  supported — 
For  President,  Thomas  Jefferson, 

of  Virginia. 

For  Vice-President,  Aaron  Burr, 

of  New  York. 

The  Federalists — 

For  President,  John  Adams, 

of  Massachusetts. 

For  Vice-President,  Thomas  Pinckney, 

of  South  Carolina. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  8,  1796. 

SIXTEEN  STATES  VOTED. 

Electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislatures  in  Connecticut, 
Delaware,  Georgia,  Kentucky,  New  Jersey,  New  York, 
Rhode  Island,  South  Carolina,  Tennessee,  and  Vermont. 


ELECTION  OF  1796. 


The  following  is  the  result  of  the  vote,  as  counted  on 
February  8,  1797: 


STATES. 

John  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Thomas  Jefferson, 
of  Virginia. 

Thomas  Pinckney, 
of  South  Carolina. 

Aaron  Burr, 
of  New  York. 

Samuel  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Oliver  Ellsworth, 
of  Connecticut. 

George  Clinton, 
of  New  York. 

John  Ja3r. 
of  New  York. 

James  Tredell, 
of  North  Carolina. 

George  Washington, 
of  Virginia. 

John  Henry, 
of  Maryland. 

Samuel  Johns*,  n, 
of  North  Carolina. 

Charles  C.  Pinckney, 
of  South  Carolina. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Connecticut  .... 

9 

4 

5 

O 
3 
4 
4 
10 
16 
6 
7 
12 
12 
15 
4 
8 
3 
4 
21 

Delaware  

3 

3 

Georgia  

j 

\ 

Kentucky  

4 

<\ 

Maryland.  

7 
16 

4 

4 
13 

3 

0 

Massachusetts.  . 

1 

2 

New  Hampshire 

6 

7 

fl 

7 

1° 

1° 

North  Carolina- 
Pennsylvania  .  . 

1 
1 
4 

11 
14 

1 
2 

6 
13 

3 

1 

1 

4 

South  Carolina. 
Tennessee  

'\ 

8 
3 

8 
'\ 

3 

1 

2O 

1 

1 

15 

? 

1 

Total  

71 

68 

59 

30 

15 

11 

7 

5 

3 

2 

2 

2 

1 

138 

NOTE. — The  voting  at  this  time  by  the  electors  was  according  to 
the  old  clause  of  the  Constitution  (art.  II,  sec.  2),  which  required 
the  electors  to  vote  for  two  persons,  the  one  receiving  the  majority 
to  be  President,  and  the  one  receiving  the  next  greatest  number  to 
be  Vice-President. 

John  Adams  was  elected  President  and  Thomas  J efferson 
as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Fifth  Congress. 

Senate— 21  Federalists,  11  Democrats Total,    S3 

House — 51  Federalists,  54  Democrats "       105 

Sixth  Congress. 

Senate — 19  Federalists,  13  Democrats Total,    32 

House— 57  Federalists,  48  Democrats "       105 


8  NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Election  of  1800 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

Early  in  the  year  1800  the  Federalist  members  of  Con- 
gress held  a  conference  in  the  Senate  chamber  for  the 
purpose  of  settling  the  candidacy  of  Mr.  Adams  for  a 
second  term.  No  account  of  the  proceedings  of  this  con- 
ference was  ever  published. 

The  Federalists  selected — 

For  President,  John  Adams, 

of  Massachusetts. 

For  Vice-President,  Charles  C.  Pinekney, 

of  South  Carolina. 

The  Democratic-Republican  members  of  Congress  held 
a  caucus  and  secret  meeting  somewhat  later,  probably  the 
last  of  February,  1800.  The  candidates  selected  at  this 
caucus  were — 

For  President,  Thomas  Jefferson, 

of  Virginia. 

For  Vice-President,  Aaron  Burr, 

of  New  York. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  4,  1800. 

SIXTEEN  STATES  VOTED. 

Electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislatures  in  Connecticut, 
Delaware,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  South 
Carolina,  and  Vermont. 


ELECTION  OF  1800. 


The  vote,   as  counted  on   February  11,   1801,  was  as 
follows : 


STATES. 

Thomas  Jefferson, 
of  Virginia. 

Aaron  Burr, 
of  New  York. 

John  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Charles  C.  Pinckney, 
of  South  Carolina. 

John  Jay. 
of  New  York. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Connecticut  

9 

9 

9 

Delaware  

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

1O 

16 

16 

16 

6 

6 

6 

7 

7 

7 

12 

12 

12 

s 

8 

4 

4 

12 

8 

8 

7 

7 

15 

4 

3 

1 

4 

8 

8 

8 

3 

3 

8 

4 

4 

4 

Virginia  

21 

21 

21 

Total           

73 

73 

65 

64 

1 

138 

NOTE. — The  voting  at  this  time  by  the  electors  was  according  to 
the  old  clause  of  the  Constitution  (art.  II,  sec.  2),  which  required 
the  electors  to  vote  for  two  persons,  the  one  receiving  the  majority 
to  be  President,  and  the  one  receiving  the  next  greatest  number  to 
be  Vice-President. 

Thomas  Jefferson  and  Aaron  Burr  having  both  received 
the  same  vote,  arid  therefore,  under  the  law  then  in  force, 
no  choice  having  been  made  by  the  people,  the  House 
proceeded  on  the  same  day  to  elect  a  President  and  Vice- 
President,  as  follows: — On  the  first  ballot  eight  states 
voted  for  Thomas  Jefferson,  six  for  Aaron  Burr,  and  the 
votes  of  two  were  divided.  The  balloting  continued  until 
Tuesday,  February  17,  1801,  when,  on  the  36th  ballot,  ten 
states  voted  for  Thomas  Jefferson,  four  for  Aaron  Burr, 


10         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

and  two  in  blank.  Thomas  Jefferson,  having  received  the 
votes  of  a  majority  of  the  states,  was  thereby  elected 
President,  and  Aaron  Burr,  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Seventh  Congress. 

Senate — 13  Federalists,  19  Democrats     Total,    32 

House — 34  Federalists,  71  Democrats "       105 

Eighth  Congress. 

Senate — 10  Federalists,    24  Democrats Total,    34 

House — 38  Federalists,  103  Democrats "       141 


Election  of  1804 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

The  first  regular  caucus  of  members  of  Congress  for 
the  nomination  of  presidential  candidates  was  held  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  February  25,  1804,  by  the  Democratic- 
Republicans,  who  unanimously  nominated — 

For  President,  Thomas  Jefferson, 

of  Virginia. 

For  Vice-President,  George  Clinton, 

of  New  York. 

The  Federalists,  by  agreement,  without  holding  a  con- 
gressional caucus,  supported — 

For  President,  Charles  C.  Pinckney, 

of  South  Carolina. 

For  Vice-President,  Rufus  King, 

of  New  York 


ELECTION  OF  1804. 


11 


The  election  occurred  on  November  6,  1804. 
SEVENTEEN  STATES  VOTED. 

Electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislatures  in  Connecticut, 
Delaware,  Georgia,  New  York,  South  Carolina,  Tennessee, 
and  Vermont. 

The  vote,  as  counted  on  February  13,  1805,  showed  the 
following  result: 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VlCE- 

PBESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Thomas  Jefferson, 
of  Virginia. 

Charles  C.  Pinckney, 
of  South  Carolina. 

II 

c,® 
G  ^ 

®  o> 

1* 

8<w 
0 

O 

A 

(4 

S3 

E| 

BK 

«H<t-i 

£° 

9 
3 

2 

6 
8 
9 
19 
7 
8 
19 
14 
3 
2O 
4 
10 
5 
6 
24 

162 

9 

3 

a 

9 
3 
6 
8 
11 
19 
7 
8 
19 
14 
3 
20 
4 
10 
5 
6 
24 

Delaware  

6 
8 
9 
19 
7 
8 
19 
14 
3 
20 
4 
10 
5 
6 
24 

Kentucky  

Massachusetts  

Now  Jersey  

New  York  

Ohio  .           

Virginia   

Total           

162 

14 

14 

176 

NOTE. — By  article  XII  of  the  amendments  to  the  Constitution, 
which  was  declared  in  force  September  25,  1804,  the  electors  are 
required  to  ballot  separately  for  President  and  Vice-President.  The 
election  of  1804  was  the  first  held  under  this  amendment. 


Thomas  Jefferson  was  elected   President,   and   George 
Clinton  as  Vice-President. 


12          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Ninth  Congress. 

Senate —  7  Federalists,     27  Democrats, Total,      34 

House — 29  Federalists,  112  Democrats, '<         141 

Tenth  Congress. 

Senate—  7  Federalists,     27  Democrats Total,     34 

House — 31  Federalists,  110  Democrats "        141 


Election  of  1808 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

The  Democratic-Kepublicans  nominated — 
For  President,  James  Madison, 

of  Virginia. 

For  Vice-President,  George  Clinton, 

of  New  York. 

The  above-named  candidates  were  nominated  at  a  con- 
gressional caucus  of  Democratic-Republicans  held  January 
23,  1808,  James  Madison  receiving  83  votes  out  of  a  total 
of  89,  and  George  Clinton  receiving  79  votes  out  of  a  total 
of  88. 

The  Federalists  nominated — 

For  President,  Charles  C.  Pinekney, 

of  South  Carolina. 

For  Vice-President,  Rufus  King1, 

of  New  York. 


ELECTION  OF  1808. 


13 


The  Federalists,  without  holding  any  caucus,  by  some 
method  concentrated  their  votes  on  these  candidates,  who 
had  been  the  Federalist  candidates  in  1804. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  8,  1808. 

SEVENTEEN  STATES  VOTED. 

The  states  choosing  their  electors  by  the  legislatures 
were  Connecticut,  Delaware,  Georgia,  Massachusetts,  New 
York,  South  Carolina,  and  Vermont. 

The  result  of  the  vote,  as  counted  on  February  8,  1809, 
was: 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

James  Madison, 
of  Virginia. 

Charles  C.  Pinckney, 
of  South  Carolina. 

George  Clinton, 
of  New  York. 

Vacancies. 

George  Clinton, 
of  New  York. 

Rufus  King, 
of  New  York. 

John  Langdon, 
of  New  Hampshire. 

James  Madison, 
of  Virginia. 

James  Monroe, 
of  Virginia. 

Vacancies. 

Connecticut  

9 

q 

9 
3 
6 
8 
11 
19 
7 
8 
19 
11 
3 
20 
4 
10 
5 
0 
21 

170 

Delaware  

3 

fl 

G  eorgia  

6 

6 

7 
9 

2 
19 

'i 

7 

1 

Maryland  

9 

2 
19 

New  Hampshire  

7 

7 

8 

8 
13 
11 

3 

°-i 

3 

3 

New  York  

13 
1J 
3 

3 

6 

Ohio  

OO 

2O 

°<i 

lihu'le  Island  

4 

1O 

10 
5 

e 

Tennessee  

5 

6 

Virginia  

•M 

24 

0 

3 

3 

6 

Total  

122 

47 

1 

113 

47 

1 

James  Madison  was  elected  President  and  George  Clinton 
as  Vice-President. 


14:          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Eleventh  Congress. 

Senate — 10  Federalists,  24  Democrats Total,    34 

House — 46  Federalists,  95  Democrats "       141 

Twelfth  Congress. 

Senate —  6  Federalists,    30  Democrats Total,    36 

House — 36  Federalists,  105  Democrats "       141 


Election  of  1812 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

The  Republicans  nominated — 

For  President,  James  Madison, 

of  Virginia. 

For  Vice-President,  Elbridg-e  Gerry, 

of  Massachusetts. 

At  a  Republican  caucus  held  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  May 
12,  1812,  James  Madison  received  the  unanimous  vote  of 
the  caucus  (82  votes).  John  Langdon,  of  New  Hampshire, 
was  nominated  for  Vice-President,  receiving  64  out  of  the 
82  votes.  Langdon  declined  the  nomination,  and  at  a 
second  caucus,  held  on  June  8,  1812,  Elbridge  Gerry  was 
nominated  by  74  out  of  77  votes  cast. 

The  Federalists  nominated — 

For  President,  De  Witt  Clinton, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Jared  Ing-ersoll, 

of  Pennsyh'ania. 


ELECTION  OF  1812. 


15 


Clinton  and  Ingersoll  were  nominated  at  a  convention 
held  in  September,  1812,  in  New  York  City. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  3,  1812. 

EIGHTEEN  STATES  VOTED. 

The  states  choosing  their  electors  by  the  legislatures 
were  Connecticut,  Delaware,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  New 
Jersey,  New  York,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and 
Vermont. 

The  following  is  the  result  of  the  vote,  as  counted  on 
February  10,  1813 : 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE- 
PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

James  Madison, 
of  Virginia. 

De  Witt  Clinton, 
of  New  York. 

Vacancies. 

Elbridjre  Gerry, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Jared  Ingersoll, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Vacancies. 

Connecticut  

9 
4 

5 
22 
8 
8 
29 

4 

8 
12 
3 
6 

2 

1 

15 
7 
25 

li 
8 
8 
25 

9 
4 

5 
2O 
7 
8 
29 

4 

1 

9 
4 
8 
12 
3 
11 
22 
8 
8 
29 
15 
8 
25 
4 
11 
8 
8 
25 

Delaware  

Oj  eorgia  

8 
12 
3 
6 

Ixmisiana  

Maryland  

Massachusetts  

New  Hampshire  

New  Jersey  

15 

7 
25 

Ohio    

11 
8 
8 
25 

Virginia                    

Total            

128 

89 

1 

131 

86 

1 

218 

James  Madison  was  elected  President  and  Elbridge  Gerry 
as  Vice- President. 


16         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Thirteenth  Congress. 

Senate —  9  Federalists,    27  Democrats Total,    36 

House  —  67  Federalists,  115  Democrats "      182 

Fourteenth  Congress. 

Senate — 12  Federalists,    26  Democrats Total,    38 

House — 61  Federalists,  122  Democrats "      183 


Election  of  1816 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

The  Eepublicans  nominated — 

For  President,  James  Monroe, 

of  Virginia. 

For  Vice-President,  Daniel  D.  Tompkins, 

of  New  York. 

A  Republican  caucus  was  held  on  March  ]6,  181G; 
119  members  attended  this  session.  In  the  balloting  for 
candidates  for  President  James  Monroe  received  65,  and 
William  H.  Crawford,  54  votes;  consequently  Monroe  w:is 
declared  the  nominee.  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  was  nomi- 
nated for  Vice-President,  receiving  85  votes,  as  against  30 
votes  for  Simon  Snyder,  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  Federalists  supported — 

For  President,  Rufus  King1, 

of  New  Torn. 

For  Vice-President,  no  particular  one. 


ELECTION  OF  1816. 


IT 


The  Federalists  did  nothing  whatever  to  nominate  oppo- 
sition candidates,  but  they  all  voted  for  Eufus  King  for 
President. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  5,  1816. 

NINETEEN  STATES  VOTED. 

The  states  choosing  their  electors  by  the  legislatures 
were  Connecticut,  Delaware,  Georgia,  Indiana,  Louisiana, 
Massachusetts,  New  York,  South  Carolina,  and  Vermont. 

The  vote,  as  counted  on  February  12,  1817,  resulted: 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

James  Monroe, 
of  Virginia. 

i 

& 

25 
«fc 

<w<w 
3  0 
W 

Vacancies. 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins, 
of  New  York. 

John  E.  Howard, 
of  Maryland. 

James  Koss, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

John  Marshall, 
of  Virginia. 

Robert  G.  Harper, 
of  Maryland. 

Vacancies. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Connecticut  

9 
3 

'i 

8 
8 

5 

4 

3 

'i 

9 
4 
8 
3 
12 
3 
11 
22 
8 
8 
29 
15 
8 
25 
4 
11 
8 
8 
25 

Delaware  

Georgia  

8 
3 
12 
3 
8 

8 

8 

'.>!» 
15 
8 
25 
4 
11 
8 
8 
26 

Kentucky  

22 

8 

12 
3 
8 

8 
8 
29 
15 

'3 

Louisiana  

Maryland  .... 

Massachusetts  
New  Hampshire  
New  Jersey  

22 

New  York  

North  Carolina  
Ohio  

8 
25 

: 

4 
11 
8 
8 
25 

• 

South  Carolina  

Vermont  

Virginia  

Total  

183 

34 

4 

183 

22 

5 

4 

3 

4 

221 

James  Monroe  was  elected   President  and  Daniel   D. 
Tompkins  as  Vice-President. 


18         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Fifteenth  Congress. 

Senate— 10  Federalists,     34  Democrats   Total,     44 

House — 57  Federalists,   128  Democrats  "        185 

Sixteenth  Congress. 

Senate — 10  Federalists,     36  Democrats Total,     46 

House— 42  Federalists,  145  Democrats «        187 


Election  of  1820 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

A  congressional  caucus,  held  in  the  spring  of  1820,  was 
attended  by  only  a  few  members,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
no  nominations  should  be  made. 

The  following  candidates  had  practically  no  opposition: 
For  President,  James  Monroe, 

of  Virginia. 

For  Vice-President,  Daniel  D.  Tompkins, 

of  New  York. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  13,  1820. 

TWENTY-FOUR  STATES  VOTED. 

The  states  choosing  their  electors  by  the  legislatures 


ELECTION  OF  1820. 


were  Alabama,  Connecticut,  Delaware,  Georgia,  Indiana, 
Louisiana,  New  York,  South  Carolina  and  Vermont. 
The  vote  as  counted  on  February  14,  1821,  follows: 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

James  Monroe, 
of  Virginia. 

John  Quincy  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Vacancies. 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins, 
of  New  York. 

Richard  Stockton, 
of  New  Jersey. 

Daniel  Rodney, 
of  Delaware. 

Robert  G.  Harper, 
of  Maryland. 

Richard  Rush, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Vacancies. 

3 
9 
4 
8 
3 
3 
12 
3 
9 
11 
15 
2 
3 
7 
8 
29 
15 
8 
24 
4 
11 
7 
8 
25 

1 

i 

'i 
'i 

3 
9 

8 
3 
3 
12 
3 
9 
10 
7 
2 
3 
7 
8 
29 
15 
8 
24 
4 
11 
7 
8 
25 

8 

4 

1 

1 

i 

'i 

'i 

3 
9 
4 
8 
3 
3 
12 
3 
9 
11 
15 
3 

O 

8 
8 
29 
15 
8 
25 
4 
11 
8 
8 
25 

235 

Connecticut  

Georgia  

Illinois  

Kentucky  

Maine  

M  aryland  

Massachusetts  

Missouri  

New  Hampshire  — 

New  York  

North  Carolina  
Ohio  

•Pennsylvania  

South  Carolina  

Vermont  

Virginia  

Total  

231 

tl 

3 

218 

8 

4 

1 

1 

3 

James   Monroe  was  elected   President  and  Daniel  D. 
Tompkins  as  Vice-President. 

*  One  elector  In  each  of  the  States  of  Mississippi,  Pennsylvania  and  Tennessee  died 
before  the  meetings  of  the  electors. 

t  The  one  vote  for  Adams  was  cast  by  Wm.  Plnmer,  who  did  not  consider  that  he  wag 
merely  to  perfunctorily  record  the  choice  of  his  party,  therefore  he  exercised  what  he 
considered  his  power  and  duty  as  an  elector  by  voting  for  Adams.  He  disapproved  of 
Monroe's  administration  and  also  desired  to  draw  attention  to  his  friend  Adams,  who 
was  elected  President  at  the  next  election. 


20          NATIONAL,  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Seventeenth  Congress. 

Senate—  7  Federalists,    41  Democrats Total,    48 

House — 58  Federalists,  129  Democrats "       187 

Eighteenth  Congress 

Senate — 40  Democrats,       8  Whigs Total,    48 

House — 72  Federalists,  141  Democrats "       213 


Election  of  1824 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

During  the  spring  of  1823  an  effort  was  made  to  revive 
the  congressional  caucus  system.  On  February  14,  1824, 
66  members  of  Congress  met  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of 
Eepresentatives — about  one-fourth  of  all  the  members,  261 
being  the  total  membership  of  the  two  Houses.  At  this 
caucus  William  H.  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  was  nominated 
for  President  and  Albert  Gallatin,  of  Pennsylvania,  for 
Vice-President.  The  caucus  adopted  a  resolution  com- 
mending Messrs.  Crawford  and  Gallatin  as  the  national 
candidates,  and  added  the  following: 

"In  making  the  foregoing  recommendation,  the  members 
of  this  meeting  have  acted  in  their  individual  characters 
as  citizens;  that  they  have  been  induced  to  this  measure 
from  a  deep  and  settled  conviction  of  the  importance  of 
union  among  Kepublicans  throughout  the  United  States, 
and  as  the  best  means  of  collecting  and  concentrating  the 
feelings  and  wishes  of  the  people  of  the  Union  upon  this 
important  subject." 

The  caucus  proved  to  be  a  failure  in  this  campaign,  and 
as  there  were  no  recognized  parties,  the  presidential  elec- 


ELECTION  OF  1824. 


21 


tion  degenerated  into  a  personal  contest,  in  which  the 
leading  candidates  were — 

For  President,  Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky. 

John  Quincy  Adams,  of  Massachusetts. 
William  H.  Crawford,  of  Georgia. 

Andrew  JaekSOn,  of  Tennessee. 

For  Vice-President,  John  C.  Calhoun,  of  South  Carolina. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  2,  1824. 

TWENTY-FOUR  STATES  VOTED. 

In  six  states — Delaware,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  New  York, 
South  Carolina  and  Vermont — the  electors  were  chosen  by 
the  legislatures,  and  in  the  remaining  eighteen  they  were 
chosen  by  the  people.  The  following  is  the  result  of  the 
popular  vote  for  President,  being  the  first  recorded: 


STATES. 

Andrew  Jackson, 
Democrat. 

J.  Quincy  Adams, 
Coalition. 

William  H.  Crawford, 
Democrat. 

Henry  Clay, 
Kepublican. 

Total 
vote. 

9443 

2416 

1  680 

67 

13  6O6 

Connecticut  

7  587 

1  978 

9  565 

Illinois  

1  9O1 

1  542 

219 

1  O47 

4  7O9 

Indiana  

7,343 

3095 

5  315 

15753 

Kentucky  

6453 

16  782 

23  '.235 

Maine  

2,330 

6  870 

9  2OO 

Mo  ry  land  

14,523 

14  032 

3646 

695 

33  496 

30  087 

6  616 

37  3O3 

M  ississippi  

3,23-4 

1  694 

119 

5'O47 

987 

311 

1  401 

2  699 

\  <  •  '.v  I  !  am  pshi  re  

643 

4,107 

4  75O 

10  it:-,.". 

9,110 

1,196 

21  291 

"0  11.". 

15  621 

86O39 

Ohio  

18,457 

12  28O 

19  255 

49.999 

36,10O 

5,44O 

4,206 

1,609 

47  355 

2,145 

20O 

•J  .'515 

Tennessee  

2O,1  97 

•2  1C 

312 

2O  725 

Virginia  

2,861 

3,189 

8,489 

416 

14  955 

Total  

155,872 

105,321 

44.282 

46,587 

.'!52,00'_> 

22 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  9,  1825. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Andrew  Jackson, 
of  Tennessee. 

John  Q.  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

William  H.  Crawford, 
of  Georgia. 

k, 

*1 

*5 

5s 
bd 

C-—  i 

®  c 
B 

John  C.  Calhoun. 
of  South  Carolina. 

Nathan  Sanford, 
of  New  York. 

Nathaniel  Macon, 
of  North  Carolina. 

Andrew  Jackson, 
of  Tennessee. 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
of  New  York. 

Henry  Clay, 
of  Kentucky. 

Vacancies. 

5 

5 

5 
8 
3 
9 
3 
5 
14 
5 
9 
11 
15 
3 
3 
8 
8 
36 
15 
16 
28 
4 
11 
11 
7 
24 

8 

R 

1 

2 
q 

1 

2 

9 

2 
5 

1 

14 

3 
5 
7 
5 
-  9 

7 

3 

2 
q 

Maryland  

7 

3 

15 

1 

10 
15 
3 

7 
8 
29 
15 

1 

s 

3 

3 
1 

8 

g 

1 
15 

26 

5 

4 

7 

Ohio 

16 

16 

OR 

28 
3 

4 

1 

11 

11 
11 

7 

11 

7 

°i 

Virginia 

0/| 

Total  

99 

84 

41 

37 

182 

30 

24 

13 

9 

2 

1 

261 

John  C.  Calhoun  was  declared  elected  as  Vice-President. 
No  candidate  for  President  having  received  a  majority,  the 
election  was  thrown  into  the  House  of  Eepresentatives. 
Accordingly,  the  same  day,  February  9,  1825,  the  Senate 
having  retired,  the  House  immediately  proceeded  to  elect  a 
President.  A  roll-call  showed  that  every  member  of  the 
House  except  Mr.  G-arnett,  of  Virginia,  ho  s  sick  at 


ELECTION  OF  1824 


23 


his  lodgings  in  Washington,  was  present.  Mr.  Webster, 
of  Massachusetts,  and  Mr.  Bandolph,  of  Virginia,  were 
appointed  tellers.  The  House  conducted  the  election 
according  to  the  rules  already  adopted,  and  on  the  first 
ballot  John  Quiucy  Adams  was  chosen.  The  votes  of 
thirteen  states  were  given  to  him,  those  of  seven  to 
Jackson,  and  of  four  to  Crawford.  The  Speaker  declared 
Mr.  Adams  elected,  and  notice  of  the  result  was  sent  to 
the  Senate.  The  votes  of  the  states  are  shown  by  the 
following  table,  which  indicates  the  divisions  within  the 
delegations: 


STATES. 


J.  Quincy 
Adams. 


Andrew 
Jackson. 


William  H. 
Crawford. 


Alabama 

Connecticut  6 

Delaware  

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Kentucky 8 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland  5 

Massachusetts 12 

Mississippi 

Missouri  I 

New  Hampshire 6 

New  Jersey 1 

New  York 18 

North  Carolina 1 

Ohio 1O 

Pennsylvania 1 

Rhode  Ihiund 2 

South  Carolina 

Tennessee 

Vermont 5 

Virginia 1 

Total...  87 


5 
2 
2 
2 
25 

9 

0 


19 


71 


51 


John  Quincy  Adams  was  elected  President  and  John  C. 
Calhoun  as  Vice-President. 


24          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows: 

Nineteenth  Congress. 

Sonate— 38  Democrats,    10  Whigs Total,    48 

House  — 79  Federalists,  134  Democrats "       213 

Twentieth  Congress. 

Senate— 37  Democrats,      11  Whigs ....Total,    48 

House  — 85  Federalists,  128  Democrats "       213 


Election  of  1828 

No  CONVENTIONS.  No  PLATFORMS. 

In  the  campaign  of  1828,  political  parties  for  the  first 
time  in  the  century  asserted  themselves,  and  took  that  form 
which  was  to  continue  through  several  contests.  The  can- 
didates were  chosen  by  common  consent,  the  legislatures  of 
the  states  having  indorsed  and  expressed  a  choice. 

The  Democrats  named — 

For  President,  Andrew  Jackson, 

of  Tennessee. 

For  Vice  President,  John  C.  Calhoun, 

of  South  Carolina. 

The  National  Republican  candidates  were — 

For  President,  John  Quiney  Adams, 

of  Massachusetts. 

For  Vice-President,  Richard  Rush, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  4,  1828. 
TWENTY-FOUR  STATES  VOTED. 


ELECTION  OF  1828. 


25 


POPULAR    VOTE. 

The  popular  vote  of  the  twenty-three  states  choosing 
electors  was  as  follows : 


STATES. 

Andrew  Jackson, 
Democrat. 

John  Q.  Adams, 
National  Kepublican. 

Total  vote. 

Alabama  

17.138 

1,938 

19  O76 

4448 

13  829 

18  277 

Delaware  

4,349 

4,769 

9  118 

O  oorgia  

18,709 

18  7O9 

0  703 

1  581 

8  344 

Indiana  

22  237 

17,052 

39  289 

Kentucky  

39084 

31,172 

70  256 

Louisiana  

4605 

4O97 

8  702 

Maine  

13,927 

20,773 

34  7OO 

24  578 

25  759 

50  337 

Massachusetts  

<>  01!) 

29,836 

35  855 

0  703 

1  ,581 

8  344 

Missouri  

8  232 

3,422 

11  654 

2O  692 

24  O76 

44  768 

New  Jersey  

21,95O 

23,758 

45  708 

New  York  

14O  763 

135  413 

276  176 

North  Carolina  

37  857 

13,918 

51  775 

Ohio  

07  597 

63  396 

130  993 

1O1  652 

50848 

152  50O 

Khode  Island  

'821 

2  754 

3  575 

*South  Carolina  

44  09O 

2.24O 

46  33O 

8  2O5 

24784 

32  989 

26,752 

12  1O1 

38  853 

Total  

647,231 

5O9,O97 

1,156  328 

* The  electors  were  chosea  by  the  legislature. 


26 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTOEAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  11,  1829. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Andrew  Jackson, 
of  Tennessee. 

John  Q.  Adams, 
of  Massachusetts. 

John  C.  Calhoun, 
of  South  Carolina. 

Richard  Rush, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

William  Smith, 
of  South  Carolina. 

Alabama  

5 

-8 
3 

's 

6 
15 

8 

8 
16 

4 

7 

5 

2 
3 
5 
14 
5 
1 
5 

'3 
3 

20 
15 
16 
28 

11 
11 

24 

8 
3 

8 

6 
15 

8 
8 
16 

4 
7 

7 

5 
8 
3 
9 
3 
5 
14 
5 
9 
11 
15 
3 
3 
8 
8 
36 
15 
16 
28 
4 
11 
11 
7 
24 

Connecticut  

Georgia  

9 
3 
5 
14 
5 
1 
5 

Indiana.  

Kentucky  

Louisiana  

Maine  

Massachusetts  

M  ississippi  

3 
3 

Missouri  

New  Hampshire  

New  Jersey  

New  York  

20 
15 
16 

28 

North  Carolina  

Ohio  

Pennsylvania  

Rhode  Island  

South  Carolina  

11 
11 

Tennessee  

Vermont  

24 

Total... 

178 

83 

171 

83 

7 

261 

Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  and  John   C. 
Calhoun  as  Vice- President. 
During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 

follows:  Twenty -first  Congress. 

Senate—  38  Democrats,  10  Whigs Total,    48 

House— 142  Democrats,  71  Whigs "      213 

Twenty-second  Congress. 

Senate—  35  Democrats,  13  Whigs Total,    48 

House— 130  Democrats,  83  Whigs «      213 


ELECTION  OF  1832.  27 


Election  of  1832 

For  the  first  time,  all  presidential  candidates  were  nomi- 
nated by  national  conventions. 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  May  21,  1832. 
Chairman,  ROBERT  LUCAS, 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Andrew  Jackson, 

of  Tennessee. 

For  Vice- President,  Martin  Van  Buren, 

of  New  York. 

Delegates  were  present  from  every  state  except  Missouri. 
At  this  convention  the  Committee  on  Rules  reported  the 
following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  each  state  be  entitled,  in  the  nomination  to  be 
made  of  a  candidate  for  the  vice-presidency,  to  a  number  of 
votes  equal  to  the  number  to  which  they  will  be  entitled  in 
the  electoral  colleges,  under  the  new  apportionment,  in  voting 
for  President  and  Vice-President;  and  that  two-thirds  of  the 
whole  number  of  the  votes  in  the  convention  shall  be  neces- 
sary to  constitute  a  choice. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  two-thirds  rule  which  has 
governed  all  subsequent  Democratic  conventions  in  making 
nominations. 


28         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORM*. 

No  platform  was  adopted. 

Andrew  Jackson  was  renominated  for  President  without 
opposition.  Martin  Van  Buren  was  nominated  for  Vice- 
President  by  the  following  ballot: 

Martin  Van  Buren,  of  New  York,     208  votes. 
Philip  P.  Barbour,  of  Virginia,  49      " 

Richard  M.  Johnson,  of  Kentucky,    26      " 


NATIONAL  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  December  12,  1831. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ABNER  LACOCK, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Chairman,  JAMES  BARBOUR, 

of  Virginia. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Henry  Clay, 

of  Kentucky. 

For  Vice- President,  John  Sergeant, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Seventeen  states  were  represented  by  157  delegates. 
Henry  Clay  was  nominated  for  President  by  a  unanimous 
vote,  and  John  Sergeant,  of  Pennsylvania,  for  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  also  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

No  platform  was  adopted. 

By  recommendation  of  this  convention  a  national  gather- 
ing of  young  men  met  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  11, 1832, 
and  having  accepted  or  ratified  the  nominations  of  Henry 
Clay  and  John  Sergeant,  they  adopted  the  following  reso- 


ELECTION  OF  1832.  29 

lutions,  which   was   the  first  platform   ever  issued  by  a 
national  convention — to  Avit: 

1.  Resolved,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  convention,  although 
the  fundamental  principles  adopted  by  our  fathers,  as  a  basis 
upon  which  to  raise  a  superstructure  of  American  indepen- 
dence, can  never  be  annihilated,  yet  the  time  has  come  when 
nothing  short  of  the  united  energies  of  all  the  friends  of  the 
American  republic  can  be  relied  on  to  sustain  and  perpetuate 
that  hallowed  work. 

2.  Resolved,   That   an  adequate   protection   to   American   in- 
dustry is  indispensable  to  the  prosperity  of  the  country;  and 
that  an  abandonment  of  the  policy  at  this  period  would  be 
attended  with  consequences  ruinous  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  nation. 

3.  Resolved,  That  a  uniform  system  of  internal  improvements, 
sustained  and  supported  by  the  general  government,  is  calcu- 
lated   to   secure,    in   the    highest   degree,    the    harmony,    the 
strength,  and  the  permanency  of  the  republic. 

4.  Re,folvcd,  That  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  is 
the  only  tribunal  recognized  by  the  Constitution  for  deciding 
in  the  last  resort  all  questions  arising  under  the  Constitution 
and  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  that  upon  the  preservation 
of  the  authority  and  jurisdiction  of  that  court  inviolate  de- 
pends the  existence  of  the  nation. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  is  pre-emi- 
nently a  conservative  branch  of  the  federal  government;  that 
upon  a  fearless  and  independent  exercise  of  its  constitutional 
functions  depends  the  existence  of  the  nicely  balanced  powers 
of  that  government;  and  that  all  attempts  to  overawe  its  delib- 
erations by  the  public  press  or  by  the  national  executive  de- 
serve the  indignant  reprobation  of  every  American  citizen. 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  political  course  of  the  present  executive 
has  given  us  no  pledge  that  he  will  defend  and  support  these 
great  principles  of  American  policy  and  the  Constitution;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  has  convinced  us  that  he  will  abandon  them 
whenever  the  purposes  of  party  require  it. 

7.  ReKolved,  That  the  indiscriminate  removal  of  public  offi- 
cers, for  the  mere  difference  of  political  opinion,  is  a  gross 
abuse    of    power;     and    that    the    doctrine    lately    "  boldly 


30          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

preached  "  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  that  "  to  the 
victor  belong  the  spoils  of  the  enemy,"  is  detrimental  to  the 
interests,  corrupting  to  the  morals,  and  dangerous  to  the 
liberties  of  this  country. 

8.  Resolved,  That  we  hold  the  disposition  shown  by  the  pres- 
ent national  administration  to  accept  the  advice  of  the  King 
of  Holland,  touching  the  northeastern  boundary  of  the  United 
States,  and  thus  to  transfer  a  portion  of  the  territory  and  citi- 
zens of  a  state  of  this  Union  to  a  foreign  power,  to  manifest  a 
total  destitution  of  patriotic  American  feeling,  inasmuch  as 
we  consider  the  life,  liberty,  property,  and  citizenship  of  every 
inhabitant  of  every  state  as  entitled  to  the  national  protection. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  arrangement  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  relative  to  the  colonial  trade,  made  in  pur- 
suance of  the  instructions  of  the  late  Secretary  of  State,  was 
procured  in  a  manner  derogatory  to  the  national  character, 
and  is  injurious  to  this  country  in  its  practical  results. 

10.  Resolred,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  citizen  of  this  re- 
public, who  regards  the  honor,  the  prosperity,  and  the  preser- 
vation of  our  Union,  to  oppose  by  every  honorable  measure  the 
re-election  of  Andrew  Jackson,  and  to  promote  the  election  of 
Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  and  John  Sergeant,  of  Pennsylvania, 
as  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

NOTE. —  These  resolutions  have  been  often  published  in  mis- 
take as  the  resolves  of  the  convention  which  nominated  Jackson 
and  Van  Buren. 

ANTI-MASONIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  September  26,  1831. 
Chairman,  JOHN  C.  SPENCER, 

of  New  Tork. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  William  Wirt, 

of  Maryland. 

For  Vice-President,  Amos  Ellmaker, 

of  Pennsylvania. 


ELECTION  OF  1832.  31 

The  Anti-Masonic  movement  dates  from  1826.  Its  tenets 
were  opposition  to  Freemasonry.  As  a  party  it  held  its 
first  national  convention  in  September,  1830,  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia.  Ten  states  with  96  delegates  made  up  the 
convention.  This  body  provided  for  a  national  convention 
which  was  held  in  Baltimore  on  the  26th  of  September, 
1831,  with  112  delegates  present,  representing  the  states  of 
Connecticut,  Delaware,  Indiana,  Maine,  Maryland,  Massa- 
chusetts, New  Hampshire,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  Ehode  Island,  and  Vermont.  This  con- 
vention met  pursuant  to  the  following  call,  issued  by  the 
prior  convention  held  a<-  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  September, 
1830: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  recommended  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  opposed  to  secret  societies,  to  meet  in  convention  on 
Monday,  the  26th  day  of  September,  1831,  at  the  City  of  Balti- 
more, by  delegates  equal  in  number  to  their  representatives 
in  both  Houses  of  Congress,  to  make  nominations  of  suitable 
candidates  for  the  offices  of  President  and  Vice-President,  to 
be  supported  at  the  next  election,  and  for  the  transacting  of 
such  other  business  as  the  cause  of  Anti-Masonry  may  require. 

At  this  convention  the  above-named  nominations  were 
made.  Judge  John  McLean,  of  Ohio,  was  also  considered 
for  the  nomination  of  President. 

No  platform  was  adopted. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  6,  1832. 

TWENTY -FOUR  STATES  VOTED. 


32 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Andrew  Jackson, 
Democrat. 

Henry  Clay, 
National  Republi- 
can. 

Total  vote. 

*  Alabama  

11  '269 

17  775 

29  0-44 

Delaware  

4  110 

4,276 

8  386 

20  750 

20,750 

Illinois  

14  147 

5  429 

19  576 

31  552 

15  47-2 

47  O'24 

Kentucky  

36/247 

43,39(5 

79*643 

4  049 

2  528 

6  577 

Maine  

33  '291 

27,204 

60*495 

19  156 

19  160 

38  316 

Massach  usetts  

14  545 

33,O03 

47  548 

5919 

5  919 

Missouri  

5*192 

5  192 

25  480 

19O1O 

44  496 

New  Jersey  

'23  856 

23,393 

47  249 

168  497 

154,890 

3'23  393 

North  Carol  ina  

24*862 

4,563 

29  425 

Ohio  

81  246 

76,539 

157  785 

Pennsylvania  

90983 

56,716 

147*699 

Rhode  Island  

2  126 

2,810 

4936 

Tennessee  

28  74O 

1  436 

30176 

Vermont  

7  870 

11  152 

19  022 

33  609 

11  451 

45  06O 

Total  

687  502 

530  209 

$1  217  711 

*  Vote  not  recorded. 

t  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 

$  This  total  does  not  include  33,108  votes  cast  for  John  Floyd  and  William 
Wirt. 


ELECTION  OP  1832. 


33 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  13,  1833. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Andrew  Jackson, 
of  Tennessee. 

>, 

M 

s?I 

3g 

b* 

-  -• 

o  o 

S 

,« 

£s 

SS 

? 

William  Wirt, 
of  Maryland. 

Vacancies. 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
of  New  York. 

John  Sergeant, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

William  Wilkins, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Henry  Lee, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Amos  Ellmaker, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Vacancies. 

7 

7 

"s 

7 
8 
3 
11 
5 
9 
15 
5 
10 
10 
14 
4 
4 
7 
8 
42 
15 
21 
30 
4 
11 
15 
7 
23 

g 

3 

3 

11 

11 
5 
9 

1FS 

5 
9 

•• 

15 

5 

5 
10 
3 

5 

"M 

2 

10 

Maryland  

3 

5 

1? 

2 

4 

4 
4 
7 
8 
42 
15 
21 

ftY) 

4 

7 

R 

4<? 

15 

Ohio  

?1 

<?O 

/I 

4 

South  Carolina  .     ... 

11 

11 

1FS 

15 

'7 

7 

Virginia  

9T 

23 

Total  

219 

49 

11 

7 

2 

189 

49 

30 

11 

7 

2 

288 

Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  and  Martin  Van 
Buren  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Twenty-third  Congress. 

Senate—  30  Democrats,  18  Whigs Total,    48 

House— 147  Democrats,  93  Whigs "       240 

Twenty -fourth  Congress. 

Bcnate—  33  Democrats,  19  Whigs Total,    52 

House— 144  Democrats,  98  Whigs "       242 


34:         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1836 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  May  20,  1835. 
Chairman,  ANDREW  STEVENSON, 

of  Virginia. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Martin  Van  Buren, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Richard  M.  Johnson, 

of  Kentucky. 

Twenty-two  states  and  two  territories  (Michigan  and 
Arkansas)  were  represented  at  this  convention,  and  more 
than  600  delegates  were  present,  but  the  vote  was  restricted 
in  each  state  to  the  number  of  representatives  in  Congress. 
Martin  Van  Buren  was  nominated  for  President  by  a  unani- 
mous vote.  For  Vice- President,  the  following  is  the  ballot : 

Eichard  M.  Johnson,  of  Kentucky,  178  votes. 
William  C.  Eives,  of  Virginia,  87      " 

Johnson  having  the  necessary  two-thirds  majority,  was 
declared  the  nominee. 

No  platform  was  adopted,  but  the  Democrats  of  New 
York,  in  January,  1836,  published  the  following,  which 
was  regarded  as  a  party  declaration — to  wit : 

We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident:  that  all  men  are 
created  free  and  equal;  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator 
with  certain  inalienable  rights,  among  which  are  life,  liberty, 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness;  that  the  true  foundation  of 


ELECTION  OF  1836.  35 

republican  government  is  the  equal  rights  of  every  citizen  in 
his  person  and  property,  and  in  their  management;  that  the 
idea  is  quite  unfounded  that  on  entering  into  society  we  give 
up  any  natural  right;  that  the  rightful  power  of  all  legislation 
is  to  declare  and  enforce  only  our  natural  rights  and  duties, 
and  to  take  none  of  them  from  us;  that  no  man  has  the  nat- 
ural right  to  commit  aggressions  on  the  equal  rights  of  an- 
other, and  this  is  all  from  which  the  law  ought  to  restrain 
him;  that  every  man  is  under  the  natural  duty  of  contributing 
to  the  necessities  of  society,  and  this  is  all  the  law  should 
enforce  on  him ;  that  when  the  laws  have  declared  and  enforced 
all  this  they  have  fulfilled  their  functions. 

We  declare  unqualified  hostility  to  bank  notes  and  paper 
money  as  a  circulating  medium,  because  gold  and  silver  is  the 
only  safe  and  constitutional  currency;  hostility  to  any  and  all 
monopolies  by  legislation,  because  they  are  violations  of  equal 
rights  of  the  people;  hostility  to  the  dangerous  and  uncon- 
stitutional creation  of  vested  rights  or  prerogatives  by  legisla- 
tion, because  they  are  usurpations  of  the  people's  sovereign 
rights;  no  legislative  or  other  authority  in  the  body  politic 
can  rightfully,  by  charter  or  otherwise,  exempt  any  man  or 
body  of  men,  in  any  case  whatever,  from  trial  by  jury  and 
the  jurisdiction  or  operation  of  the  laws  which  govern  the 
community. 

We  hold  that  each  and  every  law  or  act  of  incorporation 
passed  by  preceding  legislatures  can  be  rightfully  altered  and 
repealed  by  their  successors;  and  that  they  should  be  altered 
or  repealed  when  necessary  for  the  public  good,  or  when  re- 
quired by  a  majority  of  the  people. 

NATIONAL  REPUBLICAN  OR  WHIG. 

No  CONVENTION. 

The  candidates  named  by  the  several  states  were — 
For  President,  William  Henry  Harrison, 

of  Ohio. 

Daniel  Webster, 

of  Massachusetts. 

Willie  P.  Mang-um, 

of  North  Carolina. 


36          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 
For  Vice-President,  John  Tyler, 

of  Virginia. 

Francis  Granger, 

of  New  York. 

•» 

John  McLean, 

of  Ohio. 

William  Henry  Harrison,  of  Ohio,  and  Francis  Granger, 
of  New  York,  were  nominated  for  President  and  Vice- 
President  respectively,  by  a  state  convention  held  at  Har- 
risburg,  Pennsylvania. 

A  Democratic  Anti-Masonic  Convention  held  in  the  same 
place  at  a  different  date,  nominated  the  same  candidates. 

A  Whig  state  convention  held  in  Maryland  nominated 
William  Henry  Harrison  for  President,  with  John  Tyler, 
of  Virginia,  for  Vice-President. 

General  Harrison  was  also  nominated  by  state  conven- 
tions in  New  York,  Ohio,  and  elsewhere. 

Hugh  L.  White,  of  Tennessee,  was  nominated  for  Presi- 
dent by  the  legislatures  of  Alabama  and  Tennessee,  as  the 
opposition  or  Anti-Jackson  candidate. 

Daniel  Webster,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Willie  P.  Mangum, 
of  North  Carolina,  were  also  named  as  candidates  for  Presi- 
dent. 

No  platform  was  adopted,  but  the  Whigs  in  state  con- 
vention at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  February  3,  1836,  adopted  the 
following  resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  in  support  of  our  cause  we  invite  all  citizens 
"opposed  to  Martin  Van  Buren  and  the  Baltimore  nominees. 
•     Resolved,  That  Martin  Van  Buren,  by  intriguing  with  the 
Executive  to  obtain  his  influence  to  elect  him  to  the  Presi- 
dency, has  set  an  example  dangerous  to  our  freedom  and  cor- 
rupting to  our  free  institutions. 

Resolved,  That  the  support  we  render  to  William  H.  Harrison 
is  by  no  means  given  to  him  solely  on  account  of  his  brilliant 


ELECTION  OF  1836. 


37 


and  successful  services  as  leader  of  our  armies  during  the  last 
war,  but  that  in  him  we  view  also  the  man  of  high  intellect, 
the  stern  patriot,  uncontaminated  by  the  machinery  of  hack- 
neyed politicians — a  man  of  the  school  of  Washington. 

Resolved,  That  in  Francis  Granger  we  recognize  one  of  our 
most  distinguished  fellow  citizens,  whose  talents  we  admire, 
whose  patriotism  we  trust,  and  whose  principles  we  sanction. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  8, 1836. 
TWENTY-SIX  STATES  VOTED. 

POPULAR   VOTE. 


STATES. 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
Democrat. 

William  H.  Harrison, 
National  Republi- 
can. 

Total  vote. 

Alabama  

19,068 

15,637 

34,705 

2  400 

1,238 

3,638 

Connecticut  

19,234 

18,466 

37,70O 

4,155 

4,738 

8,893 

G  eorgia  

22,1  26 

24,930 

47,056 

Illinois  

18,O97 

14,983 

33,08O 

Indiana  

32,480 

41,281 

73,761 

Kentucky  

33,435 

36,955 

70,390 

Louisiana  

3,653 

3,383 

7,036 

22,3OO 

15,239 

37,539 

Maryland  

22,167 

25,852 

48,019 

33,501 

41,093 

74,594 

7,M6O 

4,OOO 

11,36O 

M  ississippi  

9,979 

9,688 

19,667 

Missouri  

10,995 

8,337 

19,332 

New  Hampshire  

18,722 

6,228 

24.95O 

New  Jersey  

26.347 

26,892 

53,239 

New  York  

166,815 

138,543 

305,358 

North  Carolina  

26,91  0 

23,626 

5O.536 

Ohio  

96,948 

105,405 

202,353 

Pennsylvania  

91,475 

87,111 

178,586 

2,964 

2,71O 

5,674 

*  South  Carolina      

26,1  2O 

35,962 

62.O82 

14,O37 

20,991 

35,O28 

Virginia  

30,261 

23,368 

53,629 

Total  

761,549 

736,656 

1,498,205 

*  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 


38 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL   VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  8,  1837. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
of  New  York. 

William  H.  Harrison, 
of  Ohio. 

Hugh  L.  White, 
of  Tennessee. 

Daniel  Webster, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Willie  P.  Mangum, 
of  North  Carolina. 

Hichard  M.  Johnson, 
of  Kentucky. 

Francis  Granger, 
of  New  York. 

John  Tyler, 
of  Virginia. 

William  Smith, 
of  Alabama. 

7 
3 
8 

3 

11 

14 

li 

7 
3 
8 

5 

'5 
10 

a 

4 

4 

7 

42 
15 

30 
4 

3 

9 
15 

14 

8 
21 

11 

10 

li 

15 

23 

7 
3 
8 
3 
11 
5 
9 
15 
5 
1O 
1O 
14 
3 
4 
4 
7 
8 
42 
15 
21 
30 
4 
11 
15 
7 
23 

Arkansas  

Delaware  

Illinois  

5 

0 
15 

10 

Kentucky  

5 
10 

3 
4 
4 

7 

8 
21 

Missouri  

42 
15 

Ohio  

30 

4 

15 

7 

7 

23 

Total  

170 

73 

<2G 

14 

11 

147 

77 

47 

23 

294 

No  candidate  for  Vice-President  having  received  a 
majority  of  the  votes  cast,  the  Senate  elected  Eichard  M. 
Johnson,  of  Kentucky,  Vice-President. 

Martin  Van  Buren  was  elected  President  and  Eichard 
M.  Johnson  as  Vice-President. 


ELECTION  OF  1836.  39 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Twenty-fifth  Congress. 

Senate —  31  Democrats,    18  Whigs,    3  Independents Total,    52 

House — 117  Democrats,  115  Whigs,  10  Independents "       242 

Twenty-sixth  Congress. 

Senate —  22  Democrats,    28  Whigs,  2  Independents Total,    52 

House — 103  Democrats,  132  Whigs,  6  Independents, 

1  vacancy "      242 


40         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1840 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  May  5,  1840. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ISAAC  HILL, 

of  New  Hampshire. 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  CARROLL, 

of  Tennessee. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Martin  Van  Buren, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  no  nomination. 

Delegates  from  21.  states  attended  the  Democratic  Con- 
vention. Connecticut,  Delaware,  Illinois,  South  Carolina, 
and  Virginia  were  not  represented.  Martin  Van  Buren 
was  renominated  without  opposition. 

No  nomination  was  made  for  Vice-President,  but  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted,  stating  the  reason 
therefor:  "Resolved,  that  the  convention  deem  it  expedient 
at  the  present  time,  not  to  choose  between  the  individuals 
in  nomination,  but  to  leave  the  decision  to  their  Kepublican 
fellow-citizens  in  the  several  states,  trusting  that  before 
the  Election  shall  take  place  this  opinion  will  become  so 
concentrated  as  to  secure  the  choice  of  a  Vice-President  by 
the  Electoral  College."  For  a  list  of  those  voted  for  see 
the  electoral  vote  of  this  election. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted : — 


ELECTION  OF  1840.  41 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  federal  government  is  one  of  limited 
powers,  derived  solely  from  the  Constitution,  and  the  grants  of 
power  shown  therein  ought  to  be  strictly  construed  by  all  the 
departments  and  agents  of  the  government,  and  that  it  is  in- 
expedient and  dangerous  to  exercise  doubtful  constitutional 
powers. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  upon  the 
general  government  the  power  to  commence  and  carry  on  a 
general  system  of  internal  improvements. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  authority 
upon  the  federal  government,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  assume 
the  debts  of  the  several  states,  contracted  for  local  internal 
improvements  or  other  state  purposes;    nor  would  such  as- 
sumption be  just  or  expedient. 

4.  Resolved,  That  justice  and  sound  policy  forbid  the  federal 
government  to  foster  one  branch  of  industry  to  the  detriment 
of  another,  or  to  cherish  the  interests  of  one  portion  to  the 
injury  of  another  portion  of  our  common  country;  that  every 
citizen  and  every  section  of  the  country  has  a  right  to  demand 
and  insist  upon  an  equality  of  rights  and  privileges,  and  to 
complete  and  ample  protection  of  person  and  property  from 
domestic  violence  or  foreign  aggression. 

5.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  branch  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  enforce  and  practice  the  most  rigid  economy  in 
conducting  our  public  affairs,  and  that  no  more  revenue  ought 
to  be  raised  than  is  required  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  government. 

6.  Resolved,  That  Congress  has  no  power  to  charter  a  United 
States  Bank;  that  we  believe  such  an  institution  one  of  deadly 
hostility  to  the  best  interests  of  the  country,  dangerous  to  our 
republican  institutions  and  the  liberties  of  the  people,  and  cal- 
culated to  place  the  business  of  the  country  within  the  control 
of  a  concentrated  money  power  and  above  the  laws  and  the 
will  of  the  people. 

7.  Resolved,  That  Congress  has  no  power  under  the  Constitu- 
tion to  interfere  with  or  control  the  domestic  institutions  of  the 
several  states,  and  that  such  states  are  the  sole  and  proper 
judges  of  everything  pertaining  to  their  own  affairs  not  pro- 
hibited by  the  Constitution;   that  all  efforts  by  Abolitionists 
or  others,  made  to  induce  Congress  to  interfere  with  questions 
of  slavery,  or  to  take  incipient  steps  In  relation  thereto,  are 
calculated  to  lead  to  the  most  alarming  and  dangerous  conse- 


4:2         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

quences,  and  that  all  such  efforts  have  an  inevitable  tendency 
to  diminish  the  happiness  of  the  people  and  endanger  the 
stability  and  permanence  of  the  Union,  and  ought  not  to  be 
countenanced  by  any  friend  to  our  political  institutions. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  separation  of  the  moneys  of  the  govern- 
ment from  banking  institutions  is  indispensable  for  the  safety 
of  the  funds  of  the  government  and  the  rights  of  the  people. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  liberal  principles  embodied  by  Jefferson 
in  the  Declaration  of   Independence,  and   sanctioned   in  the 
Constitution,  which  make  ours  the  land  of  liberty  and  the 
asylum  of  the  oppressed  of  every  nation,  have  ever  been  car- 
dinal principles  in  the  Democratic  faith;   and  every  attempt 
to  abridge  the  present  privilege  of  becoming  citizens  and  the 
owners  of  soil  among  us  ought  to  be  resisted  with  the  same 
spirit  which  swept   the  Alien  and   Sedition  laws   from  our 
statute-book, 


WHIG  CONVENTION. 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  December  4-7,  1839. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ISAAC  C.  BATES, 

of  Massachusetts. 

Chairman,  JAMES  BARBOUR, 

of  Virginia. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  William  H.  Harrison, 

of  Ohio. 

For  Vice-President,  John  Tyler, 

of  Virginia. 

Delegates  from  22"  states  appeared  at  this  convention. 
Arkansas,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  and  Tennessee,  were 
not  represented.  A  special  rule  was  adopted  at  this  con- 
vention which  might  be  called  the  "unit  rule,"  according 
to  which  the  delegations  by  states  selected  a  committee  of 
three  each,  such  committeemen  to  assemble  as  a  Committee 
of  the  Whole.  The  state  delegations,  meeting  separately, 
were  to  ballot,  and  then  to  deliver  their  ballots  to  their 


ELECTION  OF  1840.  43 

committee,  to  be  later  compared  by  the  whole  committee. 
The  official  proceedings  of  this  committee  are  not  of 
record.  Sufficient  is  known,  however,  to  say  that  on  the 
first  ballot  in  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  the  following 
vote  resulted : 

Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  103  votes. 

William  Henry  Harrison,  of  Ohio,    94      " 
Winfield  Scott,  of  New  Jersey,  57      " 

After  a  long  struggle,  on  the  third  day  of  the  conven- 
tion, the  committee  reported  the  following  vote: 

William  Henry  Harrison,  of  Ohio,  148  votes. 
Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky,  90      " 

Wiufield  Scott,  of  New  Jersey,  16      " 

William  H.  Harrison  was  declared  the  nominee.  John 
Tyler,  of  Virginia,  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  the 
committee  for  Vice-President. 

No  platform  was  adopted. 

ABOLITION  PARTY  CONVENTION. 

Warsaw,  N.  Y.,  November  13,  1839, 
and  Albany,  N.  Y.,  April  1,  1840. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  James  G.  Birney, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Francis  Lemoyne, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  the  movement  which  cul- 
minated in  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party.  At 
first  James  G.  Birney,  of  New  York,  was  nominated  for 
President,  and  Thomas  Earl,  of  Pennsylvania,  for  Vice- 
President;  but  Mr.  Earl  declining,  Francis  Lemoyne,  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  nominated  in  his  stead. 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


The  Warsaw  convention  of  Nov.  13,  1839,  adopted  the 
following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That,  in  our  judgment,  every  consideration  of  duty 
and  expediency  which  ought  to  control  the  action  of  Christian 
!  freemen  requires  of  the  Abolitionists  of  the  United  States  to 
organize  a  distinct  and  independent  political  party,  embracing 
all  the  necessary  means  for  nominating  candidates  for  office 
and  sustaining  them  by  public  suffrage. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  3,  1840. 
TWENTY- six  STATES  VOTED. 

POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

William  H.  Harrison. 
Whig. 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
Democrat. 

James  G.  Birney, 
Abolitionist. 

Total  vote 

Alabama  

28,471 

33,991 

62  462 

Arkansas       

5  160 

6O49 

11  209 

Connecticut  

31,601 

25,296 

174 

57,071 

Delaware  

5,967 

4,884 

10,851 

Georgia   

40,261 

31.933 

72,194 

Illinois  

45  537 

47476 

149 

93  162 

Indiana  

65,302 

51,695 

116,997 

Kentucky  

58  489 

32616 

91,1O5 

Louisiana  

11,297 

7,617 

18,914 

Maine  

46612 

46  201 

194 

93  007 

Maryland  

33,528 

28,752 

62,28O 

Massach  usetts  

72874 

51,948 

1,621 

126443 

Michigan  

22,933 

21,O98 

321 

44,352 

Mississippi  

19  518 

16995 

36513 

Missouri  

22,972 

29,760 

52,732 

New  Hampshire  

26  158 

32  670 

126 

58954 

New  Jersey  

33,351 

31.O34 

69 

64,454 

New  York  

225,817 

212,519 

2,798 

441,134 

North  Carolina  

46,376 

34,218 

80,594 

Ohio  

148,157 

124,782 

903 

273,842 

144  021 

143  676 

343 

288,040 

Rhode  Island  

5  278 

3,301 

42 

8,621 

60,391 

48,289 

108,680 

32445 

18,009 

319 

50,773 

Virginia  

42,5O1 

43,893 

86,394 

Total  

1,275,017 

1,128,702 

7,059 

2,410,778 

*  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 


ELECTION  OF  1840. 


ELECTORAL   VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  10,  1841. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

William  H.  Harrison, 
of  Ohio. 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
of  New  York. 

John  Tyler, 
of  Virginia. 

Richard  M.  Johnson, 
of  Kentucky. 

Littleton  W.  Tazewell, 
of  Virginia, 

James  K.  Polk, 
of  Tennessee. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Alabama  

7 
3 

5 

4 

7 

li 

8 
3 
11 

9 
15 
5 
10 
1O 
14 
3 
4 

8 
42 
15 
21 
30 
4 

15 

7 

7 
3 

5 

4 

7 

22 

11 

'i 

7 
3 
8 
3 
11 
5 
9 
15 
5 
10 
1O 
14 
3 
4 
4 
7 
8 
42 
15 
21 
3O 
4 
11 
15 
7 
23 

Arkansas  

Connecticut  

8 
3 
11 

Delaware  

Illinois  

Indiana  

9 
15 
5 
1O 
1O 
14 
3 
4 

K  entucky  

Louisiana  

Maine  

Maryland  

Massachusetts  

Michigan  

Mississippi  

M  issourl  

New  Hampshire  

New  Jersey  

8 
42 
15 
21 
3O 
4 

New  York  

North  Carolina  

Ohio                

15 

7 

23 

Total  

231 

OO 

234 

48 

11 

1 

294 

William  H.  Harrison  was  elected  President  and  John 
Tyler  as  Vice-President. 


46         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Twenty- Seventh  Congress. 

Senate —  22  Democrats,    28  Whigs,  2  Independents Total,    53 

House — 103  Democrats,  132  Whigs,  6  Independents, 

1  vacancy "       242 

Twenty-eighth  Congress. 

Senate—  23  Democrats,  29  Whigs  Total,    52 

House  —142  Democrats,  81  Whigs "       223 


ELECTION  OF  1844. 


47 


Election  of  1844 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  May  27-29,  1844. 

Temporary  and  permanent  Chairman, 

HENDRICK  B.  WRIGHT, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  James  K.  Polk, 

of  Tennessee. 

For  Vice-President,  George  M.  Dallas, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Every  state  was  represented  at  this  convention  except 
South  Carolina.  325  delegates  were  in  attendance,  but 
they  cast  only  266  votes.  After  a  day  and  a  half  of  con- 
tention the  two-thirds  rule  was  adopted. 

The  following  is  the  result  of  the  balloting: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

6th. 

7th. 

8th. 

9th 

MARTIN  VAN  BUBEN, 
of  New  York  

14(5 

127 

121 

Ill 

103 

101 

99 

104 

LEWIS  CABS, 

83 

94 

92 

105 

107 

116 

123 

114 

RICHAHU  M.  JOHNSON, 

of  Koiitiirky  

24 

33 

38 

32 

29 

23 

21 

JAMT.S  HUCHANAN, 
<>t   Pennsylvania... 
LKVI  WOOMUUKY, 

4 
2 

9 
1 

11 
2 

17 

26 

25 

22 

•• 

COM  M  o  i  ><  >  1  1  K  ST  K  WA  HT, 

1 

1 

JOHN  C.  CAI.UOIN, 
of  South  Carolina.  . 
JAMES  K.  POI.K, 

0 

1 

2 

•• 

•• 

" 

•• 

44 

90fl 

Whole  No.  of  votes,  2flfl 
Necessary  to  choice,  178 

48         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

In  voting  for  a  candidate  for  Vice-President,  Silas 
Wright,  of  New  York;  received  256  votes  on  the  first  ballot, 
9  being  cast  for  Levi  Woodbury,  of  New  Hampshire.  Mr. 
Wright  declined  the  nomination. 

On  the  following  day  George  M.  Dallas,  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  nominated,  receiving  220  votes.  John  Fairfield,  of 
Maine;  Levi  Woodbury,  of  New  Hampshire;  Lewis  Cass, 
of  Michigan;  Richard  M.  Johnson,  of  Kentucky ;  Commo- 
dore Stewart,  of  Pennsylvania;  Wm.  L.  Marcy,  of  New 
York,  were  also  voted  for. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted: 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  American  Democracy  place  their  trust, 
not  in  factitious  symbols,  not  in  displays  and  appeals  insulting 
to  the  judgment  and  subversive  of  the  intellect  of  the  people, 
but  in  a  clear  reliance  upon  the  intelligence,  patriotism,  and 
the  discriminating  justice  of  the  American  people. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we  regard  this  as  a  distinctive  feature  of 
our  political  creed,  which  we  are  proud  to  maintain  before 
the  world,  as  the  great  moral  element  in  a  form  of  govern- 
ment springing  from  and  upheld  by  the  popular  will;  and  we 
contrast  it  with  the  creed  and  practice  of  federalism,  under 
whatever  name  or  form,  which  seeks  to  palsy  the  will  of  the 
constituent,  and  which  conceives  no  imposture  too  monstrous 
for  the  popular  credulity. 

3.  Resolved,    therefore,   That,    entertaining   these   views,    the 
Democratic  party  of  this  Union,  through  the  delegates  assem- 
bled in  general  convention  of  the  states,  coming  together  in  a 
spirit  of  concord,  of  devotion  to  the  doctrines  and  faith  of  a 
free  representative  government,  and  appealing  to  their  fellow- 
citizens  for  the  rectitude  of  their  intentions,  renew  and  re- 
assert before  the  American  people  the  declaration  of  principles 
avowed  by  them  on  a  former  occasion,  when,  in  general  con- 
vention, they  presented  their  candidates  for  the  popular  suf- 
frage. 

Then  resolutions  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  and  9  of  the  platform  of 
1840  (see  pages  41  and  42)  were  reaffirmed,  to  which  were  added 
the  following: 

13.  Resolved,  That  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  ought  to 


ELECTION  OF  1844.  49 

be  sacredly  applied  to  the  national  objects  specified  in  the  Con- 
stitution, and  that  we  are  opposed  to  the  laws  lately  adopted, 
and  to  any  law,  for  the  distribution  of  such  proceeds  among 
the  states,  as  alike  inexpedient  in  policy  and  repugnant  to  the 
Constitution. 

14.  Resolved,  That  we  are  decidedly  opposed  to  taking  from 
the  President  the  qualified  veto  power  by  which  he  is  enabled, 
under  restrictions  and  responsibilities  amply  sufficient  to  guard 
the  public  interest,  to  suspend  the  passage  of  a  bill  whose 
merits  cannot  secure  the  approval  of  two  thirds  of  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives,  until  the  judgment  of  the  people 
can   be   obtained   thereon,   and   which   has    thrice   saved   the 
American  people  from  the  corrupt  and  tyrannical  domination 
of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States. 

15.  Resolved,  That  our  title  to  the  whole  of  the  Territory  of 
Oregon  is  clear  and  unquestionable;   that  no  portion  of  the 
same  ought  to  be  ceded  to  England  or  any  other  power,  and 
that  the  re-occupation   of  Oregon  and   the  re-annexation  of 
Texas  at  the  earliest  practicable  period  are  great  American 
measures,  which  this  convention  recommends  to  the  cordial 
support  of  the  Democracy  of  the  Union. 

NOTE. — An  abortive  convention  of  officeholders  met  at 
Baltimore  shortly  after  the  Democratic  Convention  and 
renominated  ex-President  Tyler.  He  accepted  the  nomina- 
tion, bnt  soon  after  withdrew. 

WHIG  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  May  1,  1844. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ANDREW  F.  HOPKINS, 

of  Alabama. 

Chairman,  AMBROSE  SPENCER, 

of  New  York. 

NOMINATED— 
For  President,  Henry  Clay, 

of  Kentucky, 

For  Vice-President,  Theodore  Frelinghuysen, 

of  New  Jersey. 


50 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Every  state  in  the  Union  was  represented  at  this  con- 
vention by  a  full  delegation.  Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky, 
was  nominated  for  President  by  acclamation. 

For  Vice-President,  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  of  New 
Jersey,  was  nominated  on  the  third  ballot,  as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

THEODORE  FRELINGHUYSEN, 
of  New  Jersey  

101 

118 

155 

JOHN  DAVIS, 

83 

74 

79 

MIL.LARD  FILL.MORE, 
of  New  York  

53 

51 

4O 

JOHN  SERGEANT, 
of  Pennsylvania  

38 

32 

Withdr'n. 

Whole  number  of  votes  

275 

275 

274 

Necessary  to  a  choice  

138 

138 

138 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform :  — 

WHIG  PLATFORM. 

1.  Resolved,  That,  in  presenting  to  the  country  the  names  of 
Henry  Clay  for  President,  and  of  Theodore  Frelinghuysen  for 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  this  convention  is  actu- 
ated by  the  conviction  that  all  the  great  principles  of  the 
Whig  party — principles  inseparable  from  the  public  honor  and 
prosperity — will  be  maintained  and  advanced  by  these  candi- 
dates. 

2.  Resolved,  That  these  principles  may  be  summed  as  com- 
prising:    A  well-regulated  currency;    a  tariff  for  revenue  to 
defray  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  government,  and  discrim- 
inating with  special  reference  to  the  protection  of  the  domestic 
labor  of  the  country;   the  distribution  of  the  proceeds  from 
the  sales  of  the  public  lands;  a  single  term  for  the  presidency; 
a   reform   of  executive   usurpations;    and    generally   such   au 
administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  country  as  shall  impart  to 
every  branch  of  the  public  service  the  greatest  practical  effi- 
ciency, controlled  by  a  well-regulated  and  wise  economy. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  name  of  Henry  Clay  needs  no  eulogy. 
The  history  of  the  country  since  his  first  appearance  in  public 
life  is  his  history.    Its  brightest  pages  of  prosperity  and  sue- 


ELECTION  OF  1844.  51 

cess  are  identified  with  the  principles  which  he  has  upheld, 
as  its  darkest  and  more  disastrous  pages  are  with  every  ma- 
terial departure  in  our  public  policy  from  those  principles. 

4.  Resolved,  That  in  Theodore  Frelinghuysen  we  present  a 
man  pledged  alike  by  his  Revolutionary  ancestry  and  his  own 
public  course  to  every  measure  calculated  to  sustain  the  honor 
and  interest  of  the  country.  Inheriting  the  principles  as  well 
as  the  name  of  a  father  who,  with  Washington,  on  the  fields  of 
Trenton  and  of  Monmouth,  perilled  life  in  the  contest  for 
liberty,  and  afterwards,  as  a  senator  of  the  United  States,  acted 
with  Washington  in  establishing  and  perpetuating  that  liberty, 
Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  by  his  course  as  attorney-general  of 
the  State  of  New  Jersey  for  twelve  years,  and  subsequently  as 
a  senator  of  the  United  States  for  several  years,  was  always 
strenuous  on  the  side  of  law,  order,  and  the  Constitution, 
while,  as  a  private  man,  his  head,  his  hand,  and  his  heart  have 
been  given  without  stint  to  the  cause  of  morals,  education, 
philanthropy,  and  religion. 


LIBERTY-ABOLITIONIST  CONVENTION. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  August  30,  1843. 
Chairman.  LEICESTER  KING, 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  James  G.  Birney, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Thomas  Morris, 

of  Ohio. 

There  were  present  at  this  convention  148  delegates 
representing  twelve  states.  A  platform  was  adopted,  and 
nominations  were  made  as  given  above. 

LIBERTY-ABOLITIONIST  PLATFORM. 

1.  Resolved,  That  human  brotherhood  Is  a  cardinal  principle 
of  true  democracy,  as  well  as  of  pure  Christianity,  which 
spurns  all  inconsistent  limitations;  and  neither  the  political 


52         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

party  which  repudiates  it,  nor  the  political  system  which  is 
not  based  upon  it,  can  be  truly  democratic  or  permanent. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Liberty  party,  placing  itself  upon  this 
broad   principle,    will   demand   the   absolute   and   unqualified 
divorce  of  the  general  government  from  slavery,  and  also  the 
restoration  of  equality  of  rights  among  men  in  every  state 
where  the  party  exists  or  may  exist. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Liberty  party  has  not  been  organized 
for  any  temporary  purpose  by  interested  politicians,  but  has 
arisen  from  among  the  people  in  consequence  of  a  conviction, 
hourly  gaining  ground,  that  no  other  party  in  the  country 
represents  the  true  principles  of  American  liberty,  or  the  true 
spirit  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  Liberty  party  has  not  been  organized 
merely  for  the  overthrow  of  slavery:   its  first  decided  effort 
must,  indeed,  be  directed  against  slaveholding  as  the  grossest 
and  most  revolting  manifestation  of  despotism,  but  it  will  also 
carry  out  the  principle  of  equal  rights  into  all  its  practical 
consequences  and  applications,  and  support  every  just  measure 
conducive  to  individual  and  social  freedom. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Liberty  party  is  not  a  sectional  party, 
but  a  national  party;  was  not  originated  in  a  desire  to  accom- 
plish a  single  object,  but  in  a  comprehensive  regard  to  the 
great  interests  of  the  whole  country;  is  not  a  new  party,  nor 
a  third  party,  but  is  the  party  of  1776,  reviving  the  principles 
of  that  memorable  era,  and  striving  to  carry  them  into  prac- 
tical application. 

6.  Resolved,   That   it  was   understood   in   the  times  of   the 
Declaration  and  the  Constitution  that  the  existence  of  slavery 
in  some  of  the  states  was  in  derogation  of  the  principles  of 
American  liberty,  and  a  deep  stain  upon  the  character  of  the 
country;   and  the  implied  faith  of  the  states  and  the  nation 
was  pledged  that  slavery  should  never  be  extended  beyond  its 
then  existing  limits,  but  should  be  gradually,  and  yet  at  no 
distant  day  wholly,  abolished  by  state  authority. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  faith  of  the  states  and  the  nation  thus 
pledged  was  most  nobly  redeemed  by  the  voluntary  abolition 
of  slavery  in  several  of  the  states,  and  by  the  adoption  of  the 
ordinance  of  1787  for  the  government  of  the  territory  north- 
west of  the  river  Ohio,  then  the  only  territory  in  the  United 
States,   and   consequently   the   only   territory  subject  in   this 
respect  to  the  control  of  Congress,  by  which  ordinance  slavery 


ELECTION  OF  1844.  53 

was  forever  excluded  from  the  vast  regions  which  now  com- 
pose the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  and  the 
Territory  of  Wisconsin,  and  an  incapacity  to  bear  up  any 
other  than  free  men  was  impressed  on  the  soil  itself. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  faith  of  the  states  and  the  nation,  thus 
pledged,  has  been  shamefully  violated  by  the  omission,  on  the 
part  of  many  of  the  states,  to  take  any  measures  whatever  for 
the  abolition  of  slavery  within  their  respective  limits;  by  the 
continuance  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia  and  in  the 
Territories  of  Louisiana  and  Florida;    by  the  legislation  of 
Congress;   by  the  protection  afforded  by  national  legislation 
and  negotiation  of  slaveholding  in  American  vessels,  on  the 
high  seas,  employed  in  the  coastwise  slave  traffic;  and  by  the 
extension  of  slavery  far  beyond  its  original  limits  by  acts  of 
Congress  admitting  new  slave  states  into  the  Union. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  fundamental  truths  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  that  all  men  are  endowed  by  their  Creator 
with  certain  inalienable  rights,  among  which  are  life,  liberty 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness,  was  made  the  fundamental  la-w 
of  our  national  government  by  that  amendment  of  the  Consti- 
tution which  declares  that  no  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life, 
liberty,  or  property  without  due  process  of  law. 

.  10.  Resolved,  That  we  recognize  as  sound  the  doctrine  main- 
tained by  slaveholding  jurists,  that  slavery  is  against  natural 
rights,  and  strictly  local,  and  that  its  existence  and  continu- 
ance rests  on  no  other  support  than  state  legislation,  and  not 
on  any  authority  of  Congress. 

11.  Resolved,  That  the  general  government  has,  under  the 
Constitution,  no  power  to  establish  or  continue  slavery  any- 
where, and  therefore  that  all  treaties  and  acts  of  Congress 
establishing,  continuing,  or  favoring  slavery  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  in  the  Territory  of  Florida,  or  on  the  high  seas,  are 
unconstitutional,  and  all  attempts  to  hold  men  as  property 
within  the  limits  of  exclusive  national  jurisdiction  ought  to 
be  prohibited  by  law. 

12.  Resolved,  That  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  which  confer  extraordinary  political  powers  on 
the  owners  of  slaves,  and  thereby  constituting  the  two  hun- 
dred and   fifty  thousand  slaveholders  in   the   slave  states   a 
privileged  aristocracy;  and  the  provision  for  the  reclamation 
of  fugitive  slaves  from  service,  are  anti-republican  in  their 
character,  dangerous  to  the  liberties  of  the  people,  and  ought 
to  be  abrogated. 


54         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

13.  Resolved,  That  the  practical  operation  of  the  second  of 
these  provisions  is  seen  in  the  enactment  of  the  act  of  Con- 
gress respecting  persons  escaping  from  their  masters,  which 
act,  if  the  construction  given  to  it  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States  in  the  case  of  Prigg  v.  Pennsylvania  be  cor- 
rect, nullifies  the  habeas  corpus  acts  of  all  the  states,   takes 
away  the  whole  legal  security  of  personal  freedom,  and  ought, 
therefore,  to  be  immediately  repealed. 

14.  Resolved,  That  the  peculiar  patronage  and  support  hith- 
erto extended  to  slavery  and  slaveholding  by  the  general  gov- 
ernment ought  to  be  immediately  withdrawn,  and  the  example 
and  influence  of  national  authority  ought  to  be  arrayed  on  the 
side  of  liberty  and  free  labor. 

15.  Resolved,  That  the  practice  of  the  general  government, 
which  prevails  in  the  slave  states,  of  employing  slaves  upon 
the  public  works,  instead  of  free  laborers,  and  paying  aristo- 
cratic masters,  with  a  view  to  secure  or  reward  political  ser- 
vices, is  utterly  indefensible  and  ought  to  be  abandoned. 

16.  Resolved,  That  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press,  and 
the  right  of  petition,  and  the  right  of  trial  by  jury,  are  sacred 
and  inviolable;    and  that  all  rules,  regulations,  and  laws  in 
derogation  of  either  are  oppressive,  unconstitutional,  and  not 
to  be  endured  by  a  free  people. 

17.  Resolved,  That  we  regard  voting,  in  an  eminent  degree, 
as  a  moral  and  religious  duty,  which,  when  exercised,  should 
be  by  voting  for  those  who  will   do  all  in  their  power  for 
immediate  emancipation. 

18.  Resolved,  That  this  convention  recommend  to  the  friends 
of  liberty  in  all  those  free  states  where  any  inequality  of  rights 
and   privileges   exists   on   account   of   color,   to  employ    their 
utmost  energies  to  remove  all  such  remnants  and  effects  of  the 
slave  system. 

Whereas,  The  Constitution  of  these  United  States  is  a  series 
of  agreements,  covenants,  or  contracts  between  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  each  with  all  and  all  with  each;  and 

Whereas,  It  is  a  principle  of  universal  morality  that  the  moral 
laws  of  the  Creator  are  paramount  to  all  human  laws;  or,  in 
the  language  of  an  Apostle,  that  "  we  ought  to  obey  God  rather 
than  men  ";  and 

Whereas,  The  principle  of  common  law  that  any  contract, 
covenant,  or  agreement  to  do  an  act  derogatory  to  natural 
right  is  vitiated  and  annulled  by  its  inherent  immorality,  has 


ELECTION  OF  1844.  55 

been  recognized  by  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States,  who  in  a  recent  case  expressly  holds  that 
"  a ni/  contract  that  rests  upon  such  a  basis  is  void";  and 

Whereas,  The  third  clause  of  the  second  section  of  the  fourth 
article  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  when  con- 
strued as  providing  for  the  surrender  of  a  fugitive  slave,  does 
"  rest  upon  such  a  basis,"  in  that  it  is  a  contract  to  rob  a 
man  of  a  natural  right — namely,  his  natural  right  to  his  own 
liberties,  and  is,  therefore,  absolutely  void;  therefore, 

19.  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  give  it  to  be  distinctly  under- 
stood by  this  nation  and  the  world,  that,  as  Abolitionists,  con- 
sidering that  the  strength  of  our  cause  lies  in  its  righteous- 
ness, and  our  hope  for  it  in  our  conformity  to  the  laws  of  God 
and  our  respect  for  the  rights  of  man,  we  owe  it  to  the  Sover- 
eign Ruler  of  the  Universe  as  a  proof  of  our  allegiance  to 
Him,  in  all  our  civil  relations  and  offices,  whether  as  private 
citizens  or  public  functionaries  sworn  to  support  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  to  regard  and  treat  the  third  clause 
of  the  fourth  article  of  that  instrument,  whenever  applied  to 
the  case  of  a  fugitive  slave,  as  utterly  null  and  void,   and 
consequently  as  forming  no  part  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  whenever  we  are  called  upon  or  sworn  to  sup- 
port it. 

20.  Resolved,  That  the  power  given  to  Congress  by  the  Con- 
stitution to  provide  for  calling  out  the  militia  to  suppress  in- 
surrection does  not  make  it  the  duty  of  the  government  to 
maintain  slavery  by  military  force,  much  less  does  it  make  it 
the  duty  of  the  citizens  to  form  a  part  of  such  military  force. 
When  freemen  unsheathe  the  sword  it  should  be  to  strike  for 
liberty,  not  for  despotism. 

21.  Resolved,  That  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  citizens  and 
secure  the  blessings  of  freedom,  the  legislature  of  each  of  the 
free  states  ought  to  keep  in  force  suitable  statutes  rendering 
it  penal  for  any  of  its   inhabitants  to  transport,  or  aid   in 
transporting,  from  such  state,  any  person  sought  to  be  thus 
transported  merely  because  subject  to  the  slave  laws  of  any 
other  state;  this  remnant  of  independence  being  accorded  to 
the  free  states  by  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  case 
of  Prigg  v.  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  5,  1844. 
TWENTY-SIX  STATES  VOTED. 


56 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

James  K.  Polk, 
Democrat. 

>> 

£ 
5 

it 

V* 

K 

James  G.  Birney, 

Liberty-Abolition- 
ist. 

Total 
vote. 

Alabama  

37,7-10 

26,084 

63  824 

0  546 

5  504 

15  O5O 

Connecticut  

29  841 

32,832 

1,943 

64,616 

5  996 

6  278 

12  °74 

Georgia  

44,177 

42,1O6 

86,283 

Illinois  

57  920 

45  528 

3570 

107  018 

Indiana  

70,181 

67,867 

2,106 

140,154 

51  988 

61,255 

113  v-13 

Louisiana  

13,782 

13,083 

20,865 

45  719 

3-4,378 

4836 

84,933 

Maryland  

32,676 

35.984 

3,308 

71  ,968 

52,846 

67,418 

1O,860 

131,124 

Michigan  

27,759 

24,337 

3,632 

55,728 

Mississippi  

25  126 

19,206 

44.332 

Missouri  

41,369 

31,253 

72.G2O 

27,360 

17,866 

4,161 

4;),!  87 

37  495 

38,318 

131 

75  944 

No  \7  York  

237,588 

232.482 

15,812 

485  882 

North  Carolina  

39,287 

43,232 

82,519 

Ohio  

149,117 

155,057 

8,050 

312,224 

167  535 

161,203 

3  138 

331  876 

Rhode  Island  

4,867 

7,322 

107 

12,296 

59917 

60O30 

119  947 

18,O41 

26,770 

3,954 

48,765 

49  570 

43677 

93247 

Total  

1  337  243 

1  299  068 

65608 

2,701,919 

e  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 


ELECTION  OF  1844. 


57 


ELECTOEAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  12,  1845. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

& 

g 

3 

•a 

JB 

9 

a 
6 

d 
to 

James  K.  Polk, 
of  Tennessee. 

Henry  Clay, 
of  Kentucky. 

George  M.  Dallas, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Theodore  Freling- 
huyseii. 
of  New  Jersey. 

Alabama  

9 
3 

6 
3 

12 

8 
12 

7 

11 
23 

4 

13 
6 

9 
3 

10 

9 

12 

6 
9 

5 
6 

7 
6 

36 

26 
9 

17 

6 
3 

10 

12 

8 
12 

7 
li 

23 
'i 

13 
6 

9 
3 
6 
3 
10 
9 
12 
12 
6 
9 
8 
12 
5 
6 
7 
6 
7 
36 
11 
23 
26 
4 
9 
13 
6 
17 

Arkansas  

Connecticut  

Delaware  

Georgia  

10 
9 
12 

Illinois  

Indiana  

Kentucky  

Louisiana  

6 
9 

Maine  

Massachusetts  

5 
6 

7 
6 

Mississippi  

New  Hampshire  

New  Jersey  

New  York  

36 

North  Carolina  

Ohio  

Pennsylvania  

26 

South  Carolina  

9 

Tennessee  

Vermont  

Virginia  

17 

Total... 

170 

105 

17O 

105 

275 

James  K.  Polk  was  elected  President  and  George  M. 
Dallas  as  Vice- President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Twenty-ninth  Congress. 

Senate—  30  Democrats,  25  Whigs,  1  vacancy Total,     56 

House — 141  Democrats,  78  Whigs,  6  Americans "        225 


Thirtieth  Congress. 

Senate —  37  Democrats,    21  Whigs 

House — 108  Democrats,  115  Whigs,  4  Independents  . . . 


Total,     58 
«       227 


58         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1848 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  May  22-26,  1848. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  J.  S.  BRYCE, 

of  Louisiana. 

Chairman,  ANDREW  STEVENSON, 

of  Virginia. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Lewis  Cass, 

of  Michigan.    * 

For  Vice-President,  William  0.  Butler, 

of  Kentucky. 

All  the  states  were  represented  at  this  convention. 
Three  days  were  spent  in  perfecting  the  organization. 
This  convention  directed  the  appointment  of  the  first 
national  committee  ever  organized. 

The  following  is  the  result  of  the  balloting  for  a 
candidate: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

LEWIS  CASS, 

125 

133 

156 

170 

JAMES  BUCHANAN, 

55 

54 

40 

33 

LEVI  Wo  on  BURY, 
of  New  Hampshire  
GEORGE  M.  DALLAS, 

53 
3 

56 
3 

53 

38 

W.  J.  WORTH, 
of  Tennessee  

6 

6 

5 

1 

JOHN  C.  CALHOUN, 

9 

WILLIAM  O.  BUTLER, 

3 

Whole  number  of  votes  

251 

168 

252 
168 

254 
169 

253 
169 

ELECTION  OF  1848.  59 

For  Vice-President,  William  0.  Butler,  of  Kentucky,  was 
nominated  on  the  second  ballot,  receiving  169  votes.  John 
A.  Quitman,  of  Mississippi ;  John  Y.  Mason,  of  Virginia ; 
William  R.  King,  of  Alabama;  James  J.  McKay,  of  North 
Carolina;  and  Jefferson  Davis,  of  Mississippi,  were  also 
voted  for. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  American  Democracy  place  their  trust 
in  the  intelligence,  the  patriotism,  and  the  discriminating  jus- 
tice of  the  American  people. 

2.  Resoli-cd,  That  we  regard  this  as  a  distinctive  feature  of 
our  political  creed,  which  we  are  proud  to  maintain  before  the 
world  as  the  great  moral  element  in  a  form  of  government 
springing  from  and  upheld  by  the  popular  will,  and  contrasted 
with   the  creed  and  practice   of  federalism,   under   whatever 
name  or  form,  which  seeks  to  palsy  the  will  of  the  constituent 
and  which  conceives  no  imposture  too  monstrous  for  the  popu- 
lar credulity. 

3.  Resolved,   Therefore,   that  entertaining  these  views,   the 
Democratic  party  of  this  Union,  through  the  delegates  assem- 
bled in  general  convention  of  the  states,  coming  together  in  a 
spirit  of  concord,  of  devotion  to  the  doctrines  and  faith  of  a 
free  representative  government,  and  appealing  to  their  fellow 
citizens  for  the  rectitude  of  their  intentions,  renew  and  reas- 
sert before  the  American  people  the  declaration  of  principles 
avowed   by   them   on   a   former    occasion,   when,    in   general 
convention,  they  presented  their  candidates  for  the  popular 
suffrage. 

Resolutions  1,  2,  3,  and  4  of  the  platform  of  1840  (see  page 
41)  were  reaffirmed,  with  the  following: 

8.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  branch  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  enforce  and  practice  the  most  rigid  economy  in 
conducting  our  public  affairs,  and  that  no  more  revenue  ought 
to  be  raised  than  is  required  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  government,  and  for  the  gradual  but  certain  extinction 
of  the  debt  created  by  the  prosecution  of  a  Just  and  necessary 
war. 

Resolution  5  of  the  platform  of  1840  (see  page  41)  was 
enlarged  by  the  addition  of  the  following: 

And  that  the  results  of  Democratic  legislation  in  this  and 


60         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

all  other  financial  measures  upon  which  issues  have  been  made 
between  the  two  political  parties  of  the  country,  have  demon- 
strated to  careful  and  practical  men  of  all  parties  their  sound- 
ness, safety,  and  utility  in  all  business  pursuits. 

Resolutions  7,  8,  and  9  of  the  platform  of  1840  (see  pages  41 
and  42)  were  here  inserted. 

13.  Resolved,  That  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  ought  to 
be  sacredly  applied  to  the  national  object  specified  in  the  Con- 
stitution; and  that  we  are  opposed  to  any  law  for  the  distri- 
bution of  such  proceeds  among  the  states  as  alike  inexpedient 
in  policy  and  repugnant  to  the  Constitution. 

14.  Resolved,  That  we  are  decidedly  opposed  to  taking  from 
the  President  the  qualified  veto  power,  by  which  he  is  enabled, 
under  restrictions  and  responsibilities  amply  sufficient  to  guard 
the  public  interests,  to  suspend  the  passage  of  a  bill  whose 
merits  cannot  secure  the  approval  of  two  thirds  of  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives,  until  the  judgment  of  the  people 
can  be  obtained  thereon,  and  which  has  saved  the  American 
people  from   the  corrupt  and   tyrannical   domination  of  the 
Bank  of  the  United  States,  and  from  a  corrupting  system  of 
general  internal  improvements. 

15.  Resolved,  That  the  war  with  Mexico,  provoked   on  her 
part  by  years  of  insult  and  injury,  was  commenced  by  her 
army  crossing  the  Rio  Grande,  attacking  the  American  troops, 
and  invading  our  sister  State  of  Texas;  and  upon  all  the  prin- 
ciples of  patriotism  and  laws  of  nations,  it  is  a  just  and  neces- 
sary war  on  our  part,  in  which  every  American  citizen  should 
have  showed  himself  on  the  side  of  his  country,  and  neither 
morally  nor  physically,  by  word  or  by  deed,  have  given  "  aid 
and  comfort  to  the  enemy." 

16.  Resolved,  That  we  should  be  rejoiced  at  the  assurance  of 
peace  with  Mexico,  founded  on  the  just  principles  of  indemnity 
for  the  past  and  security  for  the  future;   but  that  while  the 
ratification  of  the  liberal  treaty  offered  to  Mexico  remains  in 
doubt,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  country  to  sustain  the  administra- 
tion and  to  sustain  the  country  in  every  measure  necessary  to 
provide  for  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  should  that 
treaty  be  rejected. 

17.  Resolved,  That  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  have  carried 
the  arms  of  their  country  into  Mexico  have  crowned  it  with 
imperishable  glory.    Their  unconquerable  courage,  their  dar- 
ing enterprise,   their  unfaltering  perseverance  and   fortitude 
when  assailed  on  all  sides  by  innumerable  foes  and  that  more 


ELECTION  OF  18i8.  61 

formidable  enemy— the  diseases  of  the  climate — exalt  their 
devoted  patriotism  into  the  highest  heroism,  and  give  them  a 
right  to  the  profound  gratitude  of  their  country  and  the  ad- 
miration of  the  world. 

18.  Resolved,   That  the  Democratic  National  Convention  of 
the  thirty  states  composing  the  American  Republic  tender  their 
fraternal  congratulations  to  the  National  Convention  of  the 
Republic  of  France,  now  assembled  as  the  free  suffrage  repre- 
sentatives of  the  sovereignty  of  thirty-five  millions  of  repub- 
licans, to  establish  government  on  those  eternal  principles  of 
equal  rights  for  which  their  Lafayette  and  our  Washington 
fought  side  by  side  in  the  struggle  for  our  national  indepen- 
dence;  and  we  would  especially  convey  to  them,  and  to  the 
whole  people  of  France,  our  earnest  wishes  for  the  consolida- 
tion of  their  liberties,  through  the  wisdom  that  shall  guide 
their  counsels,  on  the  basis  of  a  democratic  constitution  not 
derived  from  grants  or  concessions  of  kings  or  dynasties,  but 
originating  from  the  only  true  source  of  political  power  recog- 
nized in  the  states  of  this  Union — the  inherent  and  inalienable 
right  of  the  people,  in  their  sovereign  capacity,  to  make  and 
to  amend  their  forms  of  government  in  such  manner  as  the 
welfare  of  the  community  may  require. 

19.  Resolved,  That,  in  view  of  the  recent  developments  of 
this  grand  political  truth — of  the  sovereignty  of  the  people 
and  their  capacity  and  power  for  self-government,  which  is 
prostrating  thrones  and   erecting  republics   on   the   ruins  of 
despotism  in  the  Old  World — we  feel  that  a  high  and  sacred 
duty  is  devolved,  with  increased  responsibility,  upon  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  of  this  country,  as  the  party  of  the  people,  to 
sustain  and  advance  among  us  constitutional  liberty,  equality, 
and   fraternity,   by  continuing  to  resist  all  monopolies   and 
exclusive  legislation  for  the  beneflt  of  the  few  at  the  expense 
of  the  many,  and  by  a  vigilant  and  constant  adherence  to 
those  principles  and  compromises  of  the  Constitution  which 
are  broad  enough  and  strong  enough  to  embrace  and  uphold 
the  Union  as  it  was,  the  Union  as  it  is,  and  the  Union  as  it 
shall  be,  in  the  full  expansion  of  the  energies  and  capacity  of 
this  great  and  progressive  people. 

20.  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded, 
through  the  American  Minister  at  Paris,  to  the  National  Con- 
vention of  the  Republic  of  France. 

21.  Resolved,  That  the  fruits  of  the  great  political  triumph  of 
1844,  which  elected  James  K.  Polk  and  George  M.  Dallas,  Pres- 


62         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

ident  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  have  fulfilled 
the  hopes  of  the  Democracy  of  the  Union  in  defeating  the 
declared  purposes  of  their  opponents  in  creating  a  national 
bank;  in  preventing  the  corrupt  and  unconstitutional  distribu- 
tion of  the  land  proceeds  from  the  common  treasury  of  the 
Union  for  local  purposes;  in  protecting  the  currency  and  labor 
of  the  country  from  ruinous  fluctuations,  and  guarding  the 
money  of  the  country  for  the  use  of  the  people  by  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  constitutional  treasury;  in  the  noble  impulse 
given  to  the  cause  of  free  trade  by  the  repeal  of  the  tariff  of 
1842,  and  the  creation  of  the  more  equal,  honest,  and  produc- 
tive tariff  of  1846;  and  that,  in  our  opinion,  it  would  be  a 
fatal  error  to  weaken  the  hands  of  a  political  organization  by 
which  these  great  reforms  have  been  achieved,  and  risk  them 
in  the  hands  of  their  known  adversaries,  with  whatever  delu- 
sive appeals  they  may  solicit  our  surrender  of  that  vigilance 
which  is  the  only  safeguard  of  liberty. 

22.  Resolved,  That  the  confidence  of  the  Democracy  of  the 
Union  in  the  principles,  capacity,  firmness,  and  integrity  of 
James  K.  Polk,  manifested  by  his  nomination  and  election  of 
1844,  has  been  signally  justified  by  the  strictness  of  his  adher- 
ence to  sound  Democratic  doctrines,  by  the  purity  of  purpose, 
the  energy  and  ability,  which  have  characterized  his  adminis- 
tration in  all  our  affairs  at  home  and  abroad;  that  we  tender 
to  him  our  cordial  congratulations  upon  the  brilliant  success 
which  has  hitherto  crowned  his  patriotic  efforts,  and  assure 
him  that  at  the  expiration  of  his  presidential  term  he  will 
carry  with  him  to  his  retirement  the  esteem,  respect,  and 
admiration  of  a  grateful  country. 

Resolved,  That  this  convention  hereby  presents  to  the  people 
of  the  United  States,  Lewis  Cass,  of  Michigan,  as  the  candi- 
date of  the  Democratic  party  for  the  office  of  President,  and 
William  O.  Butler,  of  Kentucky,  for  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States. 

WHIG  CONVENTION. 

Philadelphia,  Pa. ,  June  7-9,  1848. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  A.  COLLIER, 

of  New  York. 

Chairman,  JOHN  M.  MOREHEAD, 

of  North  Carolina. 


ELECTION  OF  1848. 


63 


NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Zaehary  Taylor, 

of  Louisiana. 

For  Vice-President,  Millard  Fillmore, 

of  New  York. 

Every  state  was  represented  at  this  convention  except 
Texas.  Two  days  were  spent  in  perfecting  the  organiza- 
tion. Zaehary  Taylor,  of  Louisiana,  was  nominated  as  the 
candidate  for  President  on  the  fourth  ballot.  The  following 
.was  the  vote: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

ZACHAHY  TAYLOR, 

Ill 

118 

133 

171 

HENRY  CLAY, 

97 

86 

74 

32 

WIXFIELD  SCOTT, 

43 

49 

54 

63 

DANIEL  WEBSTER, 

22 

22 

17 

14 

JOHN  MCLEAN, 
of  Ohio  

2 

JOHN  M.  CLAYTON. 

4 

4 

1 

Whole  number  of  votes  

279 

14O 

279 
140 

279 
140 

28O 
141 

As  the  candidate  for  Vice-President,  Millard  Fillmore, 
of  New  York,  was  declared  nominated  on  the  second  ballot, 
as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2(1. 

MILLARS  FILLMORE, 

115 

173 

ABBOTT  LAWRENCE, 

109 

87 

51 

0 

275 

206 

138 

134 

The  convention  adjourned  without  adopting  a  platform, 
but  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  at  a  ratification 


04         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

meeting  held  in  Philadelphia  immediately  after  the  con- 
vention, which  was  attended  by  most  of  its  delegates : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Whigs  of  the  United  States,  here  as- 
sembled hy  their  representatives,  heartily  ratify  the  nomina- 
tions of  General  Zachary  Taylor  as  President  and  Millard  Fill- 
more  as  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  and  pledge  them- 
selves to  their  support. 

.  2.  Resolved,  That  in  the  choice  of  General  Taylor  as  the  Whig 
candidate  for  President  we  are  glad  to  discover  sympathy 
with  a  great  popular  sentiment  throughout  the  nation — a 
sentiment  which,  having  its  origin  in  admiration  of  great 
military  success,  has  been  strengthened  by  the  development, 
in  every  action  and  every  word,  of  sound  conservative  opinions 
and  of  true  fidelity  to  the  great  example  of  former  days,  and 
to  the  principles  of  the  Constitution  as  administered  by  its 
founders. 

3.  Resolved,   That   General  Taylor,   in  saying  that,   had  he 
voted  in  1844  he  would  have  voted  the  Whig  ticket,  giVes  us 
the  assurance — and  no  better  is  needed  from  a  consistent  and 
truth-speaking  man — that  his  heart  was  with  us  at  the  crisis  of 
our  political  destiny,  when  Henry  Clay  was  our  candidate,  and 
when  not  only  Whig  principles  were  well  denned  and  clearls 
asserted,   but  Whig   measures    depended   upon   success.    The 
heart  that  was  with  us  then  is  with  us  now,  and  we  have  a 
soldier's  word  of  honor  and  a  life  of  public  and  private  virtue 
as  the  security. 

4.  Resolved,  That  we  look  on  General  Taylor's  administration 
of  the  government  as  one  conducive  of  peace,  prosperity,  and 
union;  of  peace,  because  no  one  better  knows,  or  has  greater 
reason  to  deplore,  what  he  has  seen  sadly  on  the  field  of  vic- 
tory, the  horrors  of  war,  and  especially  of  a  foreign  and  ag- 
gressive war;    of  prosperity,  now  more  than  ever  needed  to 
relieve  the  nation  from  a  burden  of  debt  and  restore  industry — 
agricultural,    manufacturing,    and    commercial — to    its    accus- 
tomed and  peaceful  functions  and  influences;  of  union,  because 
we  have  a  candidate  whose  very  position  as  a  Southwestern 
man,  reared  on  the  banks  of  the  great  stream  whose  tribu- 
taries, natural  and  artificial,  embrace  the  whole  Union,  renders 
the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  whole  country  his  first 
trust,  and  whose  various  duties  in  past  life  have  been  rendered 
not  on  the  soil  or  under  the  flag  of  any  state  or  section,  but 
over  the  -wide  frontier  and  under  the  broad  banner  of  the 
nation. 


ELECTION  OF  1848.  65 

5.  Resolved,  That  standing,  as  the  Whig  party  does,  on  the 
broad  and  firm  platform  of  the  Constitution,  braced  up  by  all 
its   inviolable  arid  sacred  guarantees  and  compromises,   and 
cherished  in  the  affections  because  protective  of  the  interests 
of  the  people,  we  are  proud  to  have  as  the  exponent  of  our 
opinions  one  who  is  pledged  to  construe  it  by  the  wise  and 
generous  rules  which  Washington  applied  to  it,  and  who  has 
said — and  no  Whig  desires  any  other  assurance — that  he  will 
make  Washington's  administration  his  model. 

6.  Resolved,  That  as  Whigs  and  Americans  we  are  proud  to 
acknowledge   our    gratitude   for   the   great   military   services 
which,  beginning  at  Palo  Alto  and  ending  at  Buena  Vista, 
first  awakened  the  American  people  to  a  just  estimate  of  him 
who  is  now  our  Whig  candidate.    In  the  discharge  of  a  painful 
duty — for  his  march  into  the  enemy's  country  was  a  reluctant 
one; — in  the  command  of  regulars  at  one  time  and  volunteers 
at  another,  and  of  both  combined;  in  the  decisive  though  punc- 
tual discipline  of  his  camp,  where  all  respected  and  loved  him; 
in  the  negotiations   of   terms   for   a   dejected   and   desperate 
enemy;   in  the  exigency  of  actual  conflict  when  the  balance 
was  perilously  doubtful — we  have  found  him  the  same — brave, 
distinguished,  and  considerate:  no  heartless  spectator  of  blood- 
shed, no  trifler  with  human  life  or  human  happiness;  and  we 
do  not  know  which  to  admire  most,  his  heroism  in  withstand- 
ing the  assaults  of  the  enemy  in  the  most  hopeless  fields  of 
Buena  Vista — mourning  in  generous  sorrow  over  the  graves  of 
Ringgold,  of  Clay,  of  Hardin — or  in  giving,   in  the  heat  of 
battle,  terms  of  merciful  capitulation  to  a  vanquished  foe  at 
Monterey,  and  not  being  ashamed  to  avow  that  he  did  it  to 
spare  women  and  children,  helpless  infancy  and  more  helpless 
age,  against  whom  no  American  soldier  ever  wars.    Such  a 
military  man,  whose  triumphs  are  neither  remote  nor  doubtful, 
whose  virtues  these  trials  have  tested,  we  are  proud  to  make 
our  candidate. 

7.  Resolved,  That  in  support  of  this  nomination  we  ask  our 
Whig  friends  throughout  the  nation  to  unite,  to  co-operate 
zealously,  resolutely,  with  earnestness,  In  behalf  of  our  candi- 
date,  whom  calumny  cannot  reach,  and  with  respectful  de- 
meanor to  our  adversaries,  whose  candidates  have  yet  to  prove 
their  claims  on  the  gratitude  of  the  nation. 


66          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

FREE-SOIL  CONVENTION. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  August  9-10,  1848. 
Chairman,  CHARLES  FRANCIS  ADAMS, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Martin  Van  Buren, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Charles  Francis  Adams, 

of  Massachusetts. 

[NOTE. — A  prior  convention  was  held  at  Utica,  N.  Y., 
on  June  22,  1848,  at  which  delegates  were  present  from 
Massachusetts,  New  York,  Ohio,  and  Wisconsin.  Samuel 
Young  was  Chairman  of  this  convention;  and  Martin  Van 
Buren,  of  New  York,  was  nominated  for  President,  with 
Henry  Dodge,  of  Wisconsin,  for  Vice-President.  General 
Dodge  subsequently  declined.] 

This  was  the  first  national  convention  of  the  Free-Soil 
Democrats,  made  up  principally  from  the  "Barnburners" 
and  the  old  Liberty  party.  They  were  joined  by  many 
Democrats.  The  nominations  were  by  acclamation. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

FBEE-SOIL  PLATFORM. 

Wliereas,  We  have  assembled  in  convention  as  a  union  of 
free  men,  for  the  sake  of  freedom,  forgetting  all  past  political 
differences,  in  a  common  resolve  to  maintain  the  rights  of  free 
labor  against  the  aggression  of  the  slave  power,  and  to  secure 
free  soil  to  a  free  people;  and 

Whereas,  The  political  conventions  recently  assembled  at 
Baltimore  and  Philadelphia — the  one  stifling  the  voice  of  a 
great  constituency  entitled  to  be  heard  in  its  deliberations,  and 
the  other  abandoning  its  distinctive  principles  for  mere  avail- 
ability— have  dissolved  the  national  party  organization  hereto- 
fore existing,  by  nominating  for  the  chief  magistracy  of  the 
United  States,  under  the  slaveholding  dictation,  candidates 


ELECTION  OF  1848.  67 

neither  of  whom  can  be  supported  by  the  opponents  of  slavery 
extension  without  a  sacrifice  of  consistency,  duty  and  self- 
respect;  and 

Whereas,  These  nominations  so  made  furnish  the  occasion 
and  demonstrate  the  necessity  of  the  union  of  the  people  under 
the  banner  of  free  democracy,  in  a  solemn  and  formal  declara- 
tion of  their  independence  of  the  slave  power,  and  of  their 
fixed  determination  to  rescue  the  federal  government  from  its 
control, — 

1.  Rcsoh-cd,  Therefore,  that  we,  the  people  here  assembled, 
remembering  the  example  of  our  fathers  in  the  days  of  the 
first  Declaration  of  Independence,  putting  our  trust  in  God 
for  the  triumph  of  our  cause,  and  invoking  His  guidance  in 
our  endeavors  to  advance  it,  do  now  plant  ourselves  upon  the 
national  platform  of  freedom,  in  opposition  to  the  sectional 
platform  of  slavery. 

2.  Resolved,  That  slavery  in  the  several  states  of  this  Union 
which   recognize  its  existence  depends   upon  the  state  laws 
alone,  which  cannot  be  repealed  or  modified  by  the  federal 
government,  and  for  which  laws  that  government  is  not  re- 
sponsible.   We  therefore  propose  no  interference  by  Congress 
with  slavery  within  the  limits  of  any  state. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  proviso  of  Jefferson,  to  prohibit  the 
existence  of  slavery  after  1800  in  all  the  territories  of  the 
United  States,  southern  and  northern;  the  votes  of  six  states 
and  sixteen  delegates  in  the  Congress  of  1784  for  the  proviso, 
to  three  states  and  seven  delegates  against  it;  the  actual  ex- 
clusion of  slavery  from  the  Northwestern  Territory,  by  the 
Ordinance    of   1787,    unanimously   adopted    by   the    states    in 
Congress,  and  the  entire  history  of  that  period, — clearly  show 
that  it  was  the  settled  policy  of  the  nation  not  to  extend, 
nationalize,  or  encourage,  but  to  limit,  localize,  and  discourage 
slavery;    and  to  this  policy,  which  should  never  have  been 
departed  from,  the  government  ought  to  return. 

4.  Rewired,  That  our  fathers  ordained  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  in  order,  among  other  great  national  objects, 
to  establish  justice,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure 
the  blessings  of  liberty;   but  expressly  denied  to  the  federal 
government,   which   they  created,   a  constitutional   power   to 
deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due 
legal  process. 

5.  Rexolvcd,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  convention  Con- 
gress has  no  more  power  to  make  a  slave  than  to  make  a 


68          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

king;  no  more  power  to  institute  or  establish  slavery  than  to 
institute  or  establish  a  monarchy.  No  such  power  can  be 
found  among  those  specifically  conferred  by  the  Constitution, 
or  derived  by  just  implication  from  them. 

6.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  federal  government 
-to  relieve  itself  from  all  responsibility  for  the  existence  or 

continuance  of  slavery  wherever  the  government  possesses 
constitutional  power  to  legislate  on  that  subject,  and  is  thus 
responsible  for  its  existence. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  true  and,  in  the  judgment  of  this  con- 
vention, the  only  safe  means  of  preventing  the  extension  of 
slavery  into  territory  now  free  is  to  prohibit  its  extension  in 
all  such  territory  by  an  act  of  Congress. 

8.  Resolved,  That  we  accept  the  issue  which  the  slave  power 
has  forced  upon  us;  and  to  their  demand  for  more  slave  states 
and  more  slave  territory,  our  calm  but  final  answer  is:    No 
more  slave  states  and  no  more  slave  territory.    Let  the  soil 
of  our  extensive  domain  be  kept  free  for  the  hardy  pioneers 
of  our  own  land  and  the  oppressed  and  banished   of  other 
lands  seeking  homes  of  comfort  and  fields  of  enterprise  in  the 
new  world. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  bill  lately  reported  by  the  committee 
of  eight  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  was  no  compro- 
mise, but  an  absolute  surrender  of  the  rights  of  the  non-slave- 
holders of  the  states;   and  while  we  rejoice  to  know  that  a 
measure  which,  while  opening  the  door  for  the  introduction 
of  slavery  into  the  territories  now  free,  would  also  have  opened 
the  door  to  litigation  and  strife  among  the  future  inhabitants 
thereof,  to  the  ruin  of  their  peace  and  prosperity,  was  defeated 
in  the  House  of  Representatives,  its  passage  in  hot  haste  by 
a  majority,  embracing  several  Senators  who  voted   in   open 
violation  of  the  known  will  of  their  constituents,  should  warn 
the  people  to  see  to  it  that  their  representatives  be  not  suf- 
fered to  betray  them.     There  must  be  no  more  compromises 
with  slavery;  if  made,  they  must  be  repealed. 

10.  Resolved,  That  we  demand  freedom  and  established  in- 
stitutions for  our  brethren  in  Oregon  now  exposed  to  hard- 
ships, peril,  and   massacre,   by  the  reckless  hostility  of  the 
slave  power  to  the  establishment  of  free  government  for  free 
territories;   and  not  only  for  them,  but  for  our  brethren  in 
California  and  New  Mexico. 

11.  Resolved,  It  is  due  not  only  to  this  occasion,  but  to  the 
whole  people  of  the  United  States,  that  we  should  also  declare 
ourselves  on  certain  other  questions  of  national  policy;  there- 
fore, 


ELECTION  OF  1848.  69 

12.  Resolved,  That  we  demand  cheap  postage  for  the  people; 
a  retrenchment  of  the  expenses  and  patronage  of  the  federal 
government;  the  abolition  of  all  unnecessary  offices  and  sal- 
aries; and  the  election  by  the  people  of  all  civil  officers  in  the 
service  of  the  government  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  practi- 
cable. 

13.  Resolved,   That   river   and    harbor   improvements,   when 
demanded  by  the  safety  and  convenience  of  commerce  with 
foreign  nations,  or  among  the  several  states,  are  objects  of 
national  concern,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  Congress,  in  the 
exercise  of  its  constitutional  power,  to  provide  therefor. 

14.  Resolved,  That  the  free  grant  to  actual  settlers,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  expenses  they  incur  in  making  settlements  in 
the  wilderness,  which  are  usually  fully  equal  to  their  actual 
cost,  and  of  the  public  benefits  resulting  therefrom,  of  reason- 
able portions  of  the  public  lands  under  suitable  limitations, 
is  a  wise  and  just  measure  of  public  policy,  which  will  pro- 
mote, in  various  ways,  the  interest  of  all  the  states  of  this 
Union;  and  we  therefore  recommend  it  to  the  favorable  con- 
sideration of  the  American  people. 

15.  Resolved,  That  the  obligations  of  honor  and  patriotism 
require  the  earliest  practical  payment  of  the  national  debt,  and 
we  are  therefore  in  favor  of  such  a  tariff  of  duties  as  will  raise 
revenue  adequate  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment, and  to  pay  annual  instalments  of  our  debt,  and  the  inter- 
est thereon. 

16.  Rc-nolmd,  That  we  inscribe  on  our  banner,  "  Free   Soil 
Free  Speech,  Free  Labor,  and  Free  Men,"  and  under  it  we  will 
fight  on,  and  fight  forever,  until  a  triumphant  victory  shall 
reward  our  exertions. 

NATIVE  AMERICAN  CONVENTION. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  September,  1847. 
RECOMMENDED— 

For  President,  Zachary  Taylor, 

of  Louisiana. 

For  Vice-President,  Henry  A.  S.  Dearborn, 

of  Massachusetts. 

The  convention   recommended,  but  did  not  nominate, 
Zachary  Taylor. 


70         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

ABOLITIONIST  CONVENTION. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  November,  1847. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  John  P.  Hale, 

of  New  Hampshire. 

For  Vice-President,  Leicester  King1, 

of  Ohio. 
Mr.  Hale  afterwards  withdrew. 

LIBERTY  LEAGUE  CONVENTION. 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  June  2,  1848. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Gerritt  Smith, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Foote, 

of  Michigan. 
This  was  an  Abolition  body. 

INDUSTRIAL  CONGRESS. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  13,  1848. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Gerritt  Smith, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  William  S.  Waitt, 

of  Illinois. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  7,  1848. 
Congress  in  1845  had  passed  an  act  requiring  all  of  the 
presidential  electors  to  be  appointed  in  each  state  oil  the 


ELECTION  OF  1848. 


71 


Tuesday  next  after  the  first  Monday  in  the  month  of 
November  of  the  year  in  which  the  election  was  held.  The 
electors  were  thus  chosen  for  the  first  time  under  the  new 
law. 

THIRTY  STATES  VOTED. 

POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Zachary  Taylor, 
Whig. 

Lewis  Cass, 
Democrat. 

Martin  Van  Buren, 
Free  Soil. 

Total  vote. 

30,482 
7,588 
30,314 
6,421 
3,116 
47,544 
53,047 
69,907 
11,084 
67,141 
18,217 
35,125 
37,702 
61,072 
23,940 
25,922 
32,671 
14.781 
4O,O15 
218,603 
43,55O 
138.36O 
185,513 
6,779 

31,363 
9,300 
27,O46 
5,898 
1,847 
44,802 
66,30O 
74,745 
12,093 
49,72O 
15,37O 
3988O 
34,528 
35.281 
30,687 
26,537 
40,O77 
27,763 
36,901 
114,318 
34,869 
154.775 
171.176 
3,646 

58,419 
1<),668 
10,948 
46,586 
15.0O1 

5',ob5 
8O 

15,775 
8,1OO 
1,126 

12',096 
125 
38,058 
10,389 

7,560 
829 
120,510 

35,354 

11  ,•_><>:  5 
730 

13,837 
9 
10,418 

61,845 
16,888 
62,365 
12,399 
4,963 
92,346 
125.121 
152,752 
24,303 
116,861 
33,587 
87,1O1 
72,355 
134,411 
65,010 
52,459 
72,748 
50,104 
77,745 
453,431 
78,419 
328  489 
367,952 
11,155 

123,124 
15,177 

47,907 
91,719 
39,160 

Florida    

Georgia  

Illinois  

Iowa  

Kentucky  

Louisiana  

Massachusetts  

Michigan  

Missouri  

Now  Jersey  

Now  York  

North  Carolina  

Ohio  

Ithoilo  Island  

*  South  Carolina  

64,705 
4,509 
23,122 
45,124 
13,747 

Texas  

Virginia  

Total  

1,300,101 

1,220,544 

291,263 

2,871,908 

'  The  electors  wero  chosen  by  the  Icjfislaturo. 


72 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL   VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  14,  1849. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE- 
PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Zachary  Taylor, 
of  Louisiana. 

Lewis  Cass, 
of  Michigan. 

Millard  Fillmore. 
of  New  York. 

William  O.  Butler, 
of  Kentucky. 

Alabama  

9 
3 

6 
3 
3 

10 

12 
6 

8 
12 

7 
36 
11 

26 
4 

13 
6 

9 
3 

9 

12 
4 

9 

a 

6 

7 
6 

9 
4 

17 
4 

9 
3 
6 
3 
3 
10 
9 
12 
4 
12 
6 
9 
8 
12 
5 
6 
7 
6 
7 
36 
11 
23 
26 
4 
9 
13 
4 
6 
17 
4 

Connecticut  

6 
3 

10 

9 
12 

4 

9 

5 
6 

7 
6 

23 

9 
4 

17 
4 

12 
6 

Louisiana  

Maryland  

8 
12 

Michigan  

7 
36 
11 

New  York  

Ohio  

26 
4 

Rhode  Island  

Tennessee  

13 

Texas  

Vermont  

6 

Wisconsin  

Total  

163 

127 

103 

127 

290 

Zachary  Taylor  was  elected  President  aud  Millard  Fill- 
more  as  Vice-Presideut. 


ELECTION  OF  1848.  73 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Thirty-first  Congress. 

Senate —  35  Democrats,    25  Whigs,  2  Free  Soil Total,    62 

House— 116  Democrats,  111  Whigs "       227 

Thirty-second  Congress. 

Senate—  36  Democrats,  23  Whigs,  3  Free  Soil Total,    62 

House— 140  Democrats,  88  Whigs,  5  Free  Soil »*      233 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1852 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  June  1-6,  1852. 
Chairman,  JOHN  W.  DAVIS, 

of  Indiana. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Franklin  Pierce, 

of  New  Hampshire. 

For  Vice-President,  William  R.  King-, 

of  Alabama. 

The  convention  soon  reached  an  organization,  but  a  pro- 
tracted struggle  ensued  for  the  nomination.  Forty-nine 
ballots  for  President  were  taken,  a  condensed  summary  of 
which  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

10th. 

20th. 

30th. 

40th. 

49th. 

LEWIS  CASS, 

116 

Ill 

81 

33 

107 

o 

JAMES  BUCHANAN, 

93 

86 

92 

83 

27 

STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS, 
of  Illinois  

20 

40 

64 

8O 

33 

0 

WILLIAM  L.  MARCY, 

27 

27 

26 

26 

85 

FRANKLIN  PIERCE, 

29 

282 

Whole  number  of  votes,  282. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,  188. 

Scattering  votes  were  cast  for  a  number  of  others  besides 
those  given. 
For  Vice-President,  "William  E.  King,  of  Alabama,  was 


ELECTION  OF  1852. 


75 


unanimously  nominated  on  the  second  ballot.     The  first 
ballot  resulted  as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

WILLIAM  R.  KINO, 
of  Alabama  

126 

DAVID  R.  ATCHISON, 

25 

8.  U.  DOWNS, 

30 

ROBERT  STRANOE, 

23 

JOHN  B.  WELLER, 
of  California  

28 

T.  J.  RUSK, 
of  Texas  

12 

WILLIAM  O.  BUTLER, 

27 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS, 

2 

GIDEON  J.  PILLOW, 
of  Tennessee  

25 

HOWELL  COBB, 
of  Georgia  

2 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 
DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

Resolutions  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  and  7  of  the  platform  of  1848 
(see  page  59)  were  reaffirmed,  to  which  were  added  the 
following: 

8.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  branch  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  enforce  and  practice  the  most  rigid  economy  in 
conducting  our  public  affairs,  and  that  no  more  revenue  ought 
to  be  raised  than  is  required  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  government  and  for  the  gradual  but  certain  extinction 
of  the  public  debt. 

9.  Resolved,  That  Congress  has  no  power  to  charter  a  national 
bank;  that  we  believe  such  an  institution  one  of  deadly  hos- 
tility to  the  best  interests  of  the  country,  dangerous  to  our 
republican  institutions  and   the  liberties  of  the  people,   and 
calculated  to  place  the  business   of  the  country  within   the 
control  of  a  concentrated  money  power  and  above  the  laws  and 
the  will  of  the  people;    and  that  the  results  of  Democratic 
legislation  in  this  and  all  other  financial  measures  upon  which 
issues  have  been  made  between  the  two  political  parties  of 
the  country  have  demonstrated  to  candid  and  practical  men 
of  all  parties,  their  soundness,  safety,  and  utility  in  all  busi- 
ness pursuits. 

10.  Resolved,  That  the  separation  of  the  moneys  of  the  gov- 
ernment from   banking  institutions  is   indispensable  for  the 
safety  of  the  funds  of  the  government  and  the  rights  of  the 
people. 

11.  Resolved,  That  the  liberal  principles  embodied  by  Jeffer- 


76         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

son  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  sanctioned  in  the 
Constitution,  which  make  ours  the  land  of  liberty  and  the 
asylum  of  the  oppressed  of  every  nation,  have  ever  been  car- 
dinal principles  in  the  Democratic  faith;  and  every  attempt 
to  abridge  the  privilege  of  becoming  citizens  and  the  owners 
of  the  soil  among  us  ought  to  be  resisted  with  the  same  spirit 
that  swept  the  Alien  and  Sedition  laws  from  our  statute-books. 

12.  Resolved,  That  Congress  has  no  power,  under  the  Consti- 
tution, to  interfere  with  or  control  the  domestic  institutions 
of  the  several  states,  and  that  such  states  are  the  sole  and 
proper  judges  of  everything  appertaining  to  their  own  affairs 
not  prohibited   by   the  Constitution;    that  all   efforts   of  the 
Abolitionists  or  others  made  to  induce  Congress  to  interfere 
with  questions  of  slavery,  or  to  take  incipient  steps  in  relation 
thereto,  are  calculated  to  lead  to  the  most  alarming  and  dan- 
gerous consequences;  and  that  all  such  efforts  have  an  inevi- 
table tendency  to  diminish  the  happiness  of  the  people  and 
endanger   the   stability    and   permanency   of   the   Union,   and 
ought  not  to  be  countenanced  by  any  friend  of  our  political 
institutions. 

13.  Resolved,  That  the  foregoing  proposition  covers,  and  is 
intended  to  embrace,  the  whole  subject  of  slavery  agitation  in 
Congress;    and  therefore  the  Democratic  party  of  the  Union, 
standing  on  this  national  platform,  will  abide  by  and  adhere 
to  a  faithful  execution  of  the  acts  known  as  the  "  compromise  " 
measures  settled  by  the  last  Congress — "  the  act  for  reclaiming 
fugitives  from  service  or  labor  "  included;  which  act,  being  de- 
signed to  carry  out  an  express  provision  of  the  Constitution, 
cannot,  with  fidelity  thereto,  be  repealed  nor  so  changed  as  to 
destroy  or  impair  its  efficiency. 

14.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  resist  all  at- 
tempts at  renewing,  in  Congress  or  out  of  it,  the  agitation  of 
the  slavery  question,  under  whatever  shape  or  color  the  at- 
tempt may  be  made. 

(Here  resolutions  13  and  14  of  the  platform  of  1848  were 
inserted.) 

17.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  faithfully  abide 
by  and  uphold  the  principles  laid  down  in  the  Kentucky  and 
Virginia  resolutions  of  1792  and  1798,  and  in  the  report  of  M-r. 
Madison  to  the  Virginia  Legislature  in  1799;  that  it  adopts 
those  principles  as  constituting  one  of  the  main  foundations  of 
its  political  creed,  and  is  resolved  to  carry  them  out  in  their 
obvious  meaning  and  import. 


ELECTION  OF  1852.  77 

18.  Resolved,  That  the  war  with  Mexico,  upon  all  the  prin- 
ciples of  patriotism  and  the  law  of  nations,  was  a  just  and 
necessary  war  on  our  part,  in  which  no  American  citizen  should 
have  shown  himself  opposed  to  his  country,  and  neither  mor- 
ally nor  physically,  by  word  or  deed,  given  aid  and  comfort  to 
the  enemy. 

19.  Resolved,  That  we  rejoice  at  the  restoration  of  friendly 
relations  with  our   sister  republic   of  Mexico,   and  earnestly 
desire  for  her  all  the  blessings  and  the  prosperity  which  we 
enjoy  under  republican  institutions;  and  we  congratulate  the 
American  people  on  the  results  of  that  war,  which  have  so 
manifestly  justified  the  policy  and  conduct  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  insured  to  the  United  States  indemnity  for  the  past 
and  security  for  the  future. 

20.  Resolved,  That,  in  view  of  the  condition  of  popular  insti- 
tutions in  the  Old  World,  a  high  and  sacred  duty  is  devolved, 
with   increased   responsibility,   upon   the   Democracy   of   this 
country,  as  the  party  of  the  people,  to  uphold  and  maintain  the 
rights  of  every  state,  and  thereby  the  union  of  states,  and  to 
sustain   and   advance  among  them   constitutional   liberty   by 
continuing  to  resist  all  monopolies  and  exclusive  legislation 
for  the  benefit  of  the  few  at  the  expense  of  the  many,  and  by 
a   vigilant  and   constant  adherence   to  those   principles   and 
compromises  of  the  Constitution  which  are  broad  enough  and 
strong  enough  to  embrace  and  uphold  the  Union  as  it  is,  and 
the  Union  as  it  should  be,  in  the  full  expansion  of  the  energies 
and  capacity  of  this  great  and  progressive  people. 

WHIG  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  June  16-19,  1852. 
Chairman,  JOHN  G.  CHAPMAN, 

of  Maryland. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Winfleld  Scott, 

of  New  Jersey. 

For  Vice-President,  William  A.  Graham, 

of  North  Carolina. 
All  the    states    were    represented  at  this    convention. 


78 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Fifty-three  ballots  for  President  were  taken,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  summary: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

10th. 

30th. 

40th. 

50th. 

53d. 

MlLLARD   FlIYLMORE, 

of  New  York  

133 

13O 

128 

129 

124 

112 

WINFIELD  SCOTT, 

131 

135 

134 

132 

142 

159 

DANIEL  WEBSTEK, 

29 

29 

29 

32 

21 

"Whole  No.  of  votes,  293. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,  147. 

For  Vice-President,  William  A.  Graham,  of  North 
Carolina,  was  nominated  on  the  second  ballot. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

WHIG  PLATFOKM. 

The  Whigs  of  the  United  States,  in  convention  assembled, 
adhering  to  the  great  conservative  principles  by  which  they 
are  controlled  and  governed,  and  now  as  ever  relying  upon  the 
intelligence  of  the  American  people,  with  an  abiding  confi- 
dence in  their  capacity  for  self-government  and  their  devotion 
to  the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  do  proclaim  the  following 
as  the  political  sentiments  and  determination  for  the  estab- 
lishment and  maintenance  of  which  their  national  organiza- 
tion as  a  party  was  effected: 

First.  The  Government  of  the  United  States  is  of  a  limited 
character,  and  is  confined  to  the  exercise  of  powers  expressly 
granted  by  the  Constitution,  and  such  as  may  be  necessary 
and  proper  for  carrying  the  granted  powers  into  full  execution, 
and  that  powers  not  granted  or  necessarily  implied  are  re- 
served to  the  states  respectively  and  to  the  people. 

Second.  The  state  governments  should  be  held  secure  to 
their  reserved  rights,  and  the  general  government  sustained  in 
its  constitutional  powers,  and  that  the  Union  should  be  re- 
vered and  watched  over  as  the  palladium  of  our  liberties. 

Third.  That  while  struggling  freedom  everywhere  enlists  the 
warmest  sympathy  of  the  Whig  party,  we  still  adhere  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  Father  of  his  Country,  as  announced  in  his 
Farewell  Address,  of  keeping  ourselves  free  from  all  entangling 
alliances  with  foreign  countries,  and  of  never  quitting  our 


ELECTION  OF  1852.  79 

own  to  stand  upon  foreign  grounds;  that  our  mission  as  a 
republic  is  not  to  propagate  our  opinions,  or  impose  upon 
other  countries  our  forms  of  government  by  artifice  or  force, 
but  to  teach  by  example,  and  show  by  our  success,  moderation 
and  justice,  the  blessings  of  self-government  and  the  advan- 
tages of  free  institutions. 

Fourth.  That  as  the  people  make  and  control  the  govern- 
ment, they  should  obey  its  Constitution,  laws,  and  treaties,  as 
they  would  retain  their  self-respect  and  the  respect  which 
they  claim  and  will  enforce  from  foreign  powers. 

Fifth.  Governments  should  be  conducted  on  principles  of 
the  strictest  economy,  and  revenue  sufficient  for  the  expenses 
thereof  in  time  of  peace  ought  to  be  derived  mainly  from  a 
duty  on  imports,  and  not  from  direct  taxes;  and  in  laying 
such  duties  sound  policy  requires  a  just  discrimination;  and, 
when  practicable,  by  specific  duties,  whereby  suitable  encour- 
agement may  be  afforded  to  American  industry  equally  to  all 
classes  and  to  all  portions  of  the  country. 

Sixth.  The  Constitution  vests  in  Congress  the  power  to  open 
and  repair  harbors  and  remove  obstructions  from  navigable 
rivers  whenever  such  improvements  are  necessary  for  the 
common  defence  and  for  the  protection  and  facility  of  com- 
merce with  foreign  nations  or  among  the  states,  said  improve- 
ments being  in  every  instance  national  and  general  in  their 
character. 

Seventh.  The  federal  and  state  governments  are  parts  of  one 
system,  alike  necessary  for  the  common  prosperity,  peace,  and 
security,  and  ought  to  be  regarded  alike  with  a  cordial, 
habitual,  and  immovable  attachment.  Respect  for  the  author- 
ity of  each,  and  acquiescence  in  the  just  constitutional  meas- 
ures of  each,  are  duties  required  by  the  plainest  considerations 
of  national,  state,  and  individual  welfare. 

Eighth.  That  the  series  of  acts  of  the  Thirty-second  Con- 
gress, the  act  known  as  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  included,  are 
received  and  acquiesced  in  by  the  Whig  party  of  the  United 
States  as  a  settlement  in  principle  and  substance  of  the  dan- 
gerous and  exciting  questions  which  they  embrace,  and  so  far 
as  they  are  concerned  we  will  maintain  them  and  insist  upon 
their  strict  enforcement  until  time  and  experience  shall  demon- 
strate the  necessity  for  further  legislation  to  guard  against 
the  evasion  of  the  laws  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  abuse  of  their 
powers  on  the  other,  not  impairing  their  present  efficiency; 
and  we  deprecate  all  further  agitation  of  the  question  thus 
eettled  as  dangerous  to  our  peace,  and  will  discountenance  all 


80         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

efforts  to  continue  or  renew  such  agitation,  whenever,  wher- 
ever, or  however  the  attempt  may  be  made;  and  we  will 
maintain  the  system  as  essential  to  the  nationality  of  the 
Whig  party  and  the  integrity  of  the  Union. 

FREE-SOIL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  August  11,  1852. 
Chairman,  HENRY  WILSON, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  John  P.  Hale, 

of  New  Hampshire. 

For  Vice-President,  George  W.  Julian, 

of  Indiana. 

Nominations  were  made  as  above  given,  and  the  following 
platform  was  adopted: — 

FREE- SOIL  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

Having  assembled  in  national  convention  as  the  Free  Democ- 
racy of  the  United  States,  united  by  a  common  resolve  to 
maintain  right  against  wrong,  and  freedom  against  slavery; 
confiding  in  the  intelligence,  patriotism,  and  discriminating 
justice  of  the  American  people;  putting  our  trust  in  God  for 
the  triumph  of  our  cause,  and  invoking  His  guidance  in  our 
endeavors  to  advance  it,  we  now  submit  to  the  candid  judg- 
ment of  all  men,  the  following  declaration  of  principles  and 
measures: 

First.  That  governments  deriving  their  just  powers  from 
the  consent  of  the  governed  are  instituted  among  men  to  secure 
to  all  those  inalienable  rights  of  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit 
of  happiness  with  which  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator, 
and  of  which  none  can  be  deprived  by  valid  legislation,  except 
for  crime. 

Second.  That  the  true  mission  of  American  Democracy  is  to 
maintain  the  liberties  of  the  people,  the  sovereignty  of  the 
states,  and  the  perpetuity  of  the  Union,  by  the  impartial  appli- 
cation to  public  affairs,  without  sectional  discrimination,  of 
the  fundamental  principles  of  human  rights,  strict  justice,  and 
an  economical  administration. 


ELECTION  OF  1852.  81 

Third.  That  the  federal  government  is  one  of  the  limited 
powers  derived  solely  from  the  Constitution,  and  the  grants  of 
powers  therein  ought  to  be  strictly  construed  by  all  the  de- 
partments and  agents  of  the  government,  and  it  is  inexpedient 
and  dangerous  to  exercise  doubtful  constitutional  powers. 

Fourth.  That  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  ordained 
to  form  a  more  perfect  Union,  to  establish  justice,  and  secure 
the  blessings  of  liberty,  expressly  denies  to  the  general  govern- 
ment all  power  to  deprive  any  person  of  life,  liberty,  or  prop- 
erty without  due  process  of  law;  and  therefore  the  Government, 
having  no  more  power  to  make  a  slave  than  to  make  a  king, 
and  no  more  power  to  establish  slavery  than  to  establish  a 
monarchy,  should  at  once  proceed  to  relieve  itself  from  all 
responsibility  for  the  existence  of  slavery,  wherever  it  pos- 
sesses constitutional  power  to  legislate  for  its  extinction. 

Fifth.  That  to  the  persevering  and  importunate  demands  of 
the  slave  power  for  more  slave  states,  new  slave  territories, 
and  the  nationalization  of  slavery,  our  distinct  and  final 
answer  is:  No  more  slave  states,  no  slave  territory,  no 
nationalized  slavery,  and  no  national  legislation  for  the  extra- 
dition of  slaves. 

ftixth.  That  slavery  is  a  sin  against  God  and  a  crime  against 
man,  which  no  human  enactment  nor  usage  can  make  right; 
and  that  Christianity,  humanity,  and  patriotism  alike  demand 
its  abolition. 

Seventh.  That  the  Fugitive  Slave  Act  of  1850  is  repugnant 
to  the  Constitution,  to  the  principles  of  the  common  law,  to 
the  spirit  of  Christianity,  and  to  the  sentiments  of  the  civilized 
world.  We  therefore  deny  its  binding  force  on  the  American 
people,  and  demand  its  immediate  and  total  repeal. 

Eighth.  That  the  doctrine  that  any  human  law  is  a  finality, 
and  not  subject  to  modification  or  repeal,  is  not  in  accordance 
with  the  creed  of  the  founders  of  our  government,  and  is  dan- 
gerous to  the  liberties  of  the  people. 

Ninth.  That  the  acts  of  Congress  known  as  the  "  compro- 
mise "  measures  of  1850, — by  making  the  admission  of  a  sover- 
eign state  contingent  upon  the  adoption  of  other  measures 
demanded  by  the  special  interests  of  slavery;  by  their  omis- 
sion to  guarantee  freedom  in  the  free  territories;  by  their 
attempt  to  impose  unconstitutional  limitations  on  the  powers 
of  Congress  and  the  people  to  admit  new  states;  by  their  pro- 
visions for  the  assumption  of  five  millions  of  the  state  debt  of 
Texas,  and  for  the  payment  of  five  millions  more,  and  the 
cession  of  large  territory  to  the  same  state  under  menace,  as 


82          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

an  inducement  to  their  relinquishment  of  a  groundless  claim, - 
and  by  their  invasion  of  the  sovereignty  of  the  states  and  the 
liberties  of  the  people,  through  the  enactment  of  an  unjust, 
oppressive,  and  unconstitutional  fugitive  slave  law, — are  proved 
to  be  inconsistent  with  all  the  principles  and  maxims  of 
Democracy,  and  wholly  inadequate  to  the  settlement  of  the 
questions  of  which  they  are  claimed  to  be  an  adjustment. 

Tenth.  That  no  permanent  settlement  of  the  slavery  ques- 
tion can  be  looked  for  except  in  the  practical  recognition  of 
the  truth  that  slavery  is  sectional  and  freedom  national;  by 
the  total  separation  of  the  general  government  from  slavery, 
and  the  exercise  of  its  legitimate  and  constitutional  influence 
on  the  side  of  freedom;  and  by  leaving  to  the  states  the  whole 
subject  of  slavery  and  the  extradition  of  fugitives  from  service. 

Eleventh.  That  all  men  have  a  natural  right  to  a  portion  of 
the  soil;  and  that  as  the  use  of  the  soil  is  indispensable  to  life, 
the  right  of  all  men  to  the  soil  is  as  sacred  as  their  right  to  life 
itself. 

Twelfth.  That  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States  belong 
to  the  people,  and  should  not  be  sold  to  individuals,  nor 
granted  to  corporations,  but  should  be  held  as  a  sacred  trust 
for  the  benefit  of  the  people,  and  should  be  granted  in  limited 
quantities,  free  of  cost,  to  landless  settlers. 

Thirteenth.  That  a  due  regard  for  the  federal  Constitution 
and  a  sound  administrative  policy  demand  that  the  funds  of 
the  general  government  be  kept  separate  from  banking  institu- 
tions; that  inland  and  ocean  postage  should  be  reduced  to"  the 
lowest  possible  point;  that  no  more  revenue  should  be  raised 
than  is  required  to  defray  the  strictly  necessary  expenses  of 
the  public  service  and  to  pay  off  the  public  debt;  and  that  the 
power  and  patronage  of  the  government  should  be  diminished 
by  the  abolition  of  all  unnecessary  offices,  salaries,  and  privi- 
leges, and  by  the  election  by  the  people  of  all  civil  officers  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  so  far  as  may  be  consistent 
with  the  prompt  and  efficient  transaction  of  the  public  business. 

Fourteenth.  That  river  and  harbor  improvements,  when 
necessary  to  the  safety  and  convenience  of  commerce  with 
foreign  nations  or  among  the  several  states,  are  objects  of 
national  concern,  and  it  is  the  duty  of  Congress,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  its  constitutional  powers,  to  provide  for  the  same. 

Fifteenth.  That  emigrants  and  exiles  from  the  Old  World 
should  find  a  cordial  welcome  to  homes  of  comfort  and  fields 
of  enterprise  in  the  New;  and  every  attempt  to  abridge  their 
privilege  of  becoming  citizens  and  owners  of  soil  among  us 
ought  to  be  resisted  with  inflexible  determination. 


ELECTION  OF  1852.  83 

Sixteenth.  That  every  nation  has  a  clear  right  to  alter  or 
change  its  own  government,  and  to  administer  its  own  con- 
cerns in  such  manner  as  may  best  secure  the  rights  and 
promote  the  happiness  of  the  people;  and  foreign  interference 
with  that  right  is  a  dangerous  violation  of  the  law  of  nations, 
against  which  all  independent  governments  should  protest, 
and  endeavor  by  all  proper  means  to  prevent;  and  especially 
is  it  the  duty  of  the  American  government,  representing  the 
chief  republic  of  the  world,  to  protest  against,  and  by  all 
proper  means  to  prevent,  the  intervention  of  kings  and  em- 
perors against  nations  seeking  to  establish  for  themselves 
republican  or  constitutional  governments. 

Seventeenth.  That  the  independence  of  Hayti  ought  to  be 
recognized  by  our  government,  and  our  commercial  relations 
with  it  placed  on  the  footing  of  the  most  favored  nations. 

Eighteenth.  That  as,  by  the  Constitution,  "  the  citizens  of 
each  state  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  and  immu- 
nities of  citizens  of  the  several  states,"  the  practice  of  im- 
prisoning colored  seamen  of  other  states  while  the  vessels  to 
which  they  belong  lie  in  port,  and  refusing  the  exercise  of  the 
right  to  bring  such  cases  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States,  to  test  the  legality  of  such  proceedings,  is  a 
flagrant  violation  of  the  Constitution  and  an  invasion  of  the 
rights  of  the  citizens  of  other  states,  utterly  inconsistent  with 
the  professions  made  by  the  slaveholders  that  they  wish  the 
provisions  of  the  Constitution  faithfully  observed  by  every 
state  in  the  Union. 

Nineteenth.  That  we  recommend  the  introduction  into  all 
treaties  hereafter  to  be  negotiated  between  the  United  States 
and  foreign  nations,  of  some  provision  for  the  amicable  settle- 
ment of  difficulties  by  a  resort  to  decisive  arbitration. 

Twentieth.  That  the  Free  Democratic  party  is  not  organized 
to  aid  either  the  Whig  or  Democratic  wing  of  the  great  slave- 
compromise  party  of  the  nation,  but  to  defeat  them  both;  ancl 
that,  repudiating  and  renouncing  both  as  hopelessly  corrupt 
and  utterly  unworthy  of  confidence,  the  purpose  of  the  Free 
Democracy  is  to  take  possession  of  the  federal  government 
and  administer  it  for  the  better  protection  of  the  rights  and 
Interests  of  the  whole  people. 

Twenty-flr»t.  That  we  inscribe  on  our  banner  Free  Soil,  Free 
Speech,  Free  Labor,  and  Free  Men,  and  under  it  will  flght  on 
and  flght  ever  until  a  triumphant  victory  shall  reward  our 
exertions. 

Twenty-second.  That  upon  this  platform  the  convention  pre- 
sents to  the  American  people  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


President  of  the  United  States,  John  P.  Hale,  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States,  George  W.  Julian,  of  Indiana,  and  earnestly 
commends  them  to  the  support  of  all  free  men  and  all  parties. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  2,  1852. 
THIRTY-OKE  STATES  VOTED. 

POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Franklin  Pierce, 
Democrat. 

Winfleld  Scott, 
Whig. 

John  P.  Hale, 
Free  Soil  Democrat. 

Total  vote. 

26881 

15  038 

41  919 

Arkansas  

12  173 

7  404 

19  577 

California  

40  626 

35  407 

1OO 

76'  133 

Connecticut  

33,249 

30,357 

3,160 

66  766 

6  318 

6  293 

62 

12  673 

Florida  

4,318 

2,875 

7  193 

34  705 

16  660 

51  365 

Illinois  

80,597 

64,934 

9966 

155'497 

Indiana  

95  340 

80901 

6  929 

183  17O 

Iowa  

17,703 

15,856 

1,604 

35  223 

Kentucky  

538O6 

57  O68 

265 

111  139 

Ixvuisiana  

18,647 

17,255 

35  902 

Maine  

41  6O9 

32  5<*3 

8  030 

82  182 

40O20 

35  O66 

54 

75  140 

Massachusetts  

44,569 

52,683 

28  O23 

125*275 

41  842 

33  859 

7  237 

82  938 

Mississippi  

26,876 

17,548 

44  424 

38  353 

29984 

68  337 

New  Hampshire  

29,997 

16,147 

6695 

52  839 

44  305 

38  556 

350 

83  211 

New  York  

262,083 

234,882 

25  329 

522  294 

39  744 

39O58 

59 

78  861 

Ohio  

169,220 

152,526 

31  682 

353428 

198,568 

179  174 

8  525 

386  267 

Rhode  Island  

8,735 

7,626 

644 

17  005 

*  South  Carolina  

Tennessee  

57,018 

58,898 

115916 

Texas  

13,552 

4,995 

18  547 

Vermont  

13,O44 

22,173 

8,621 

43,838 

Virginia  

73,858 

58,572 

132,430 

31,658 

22,240 

8814 

64  712 

Total  

1,601,474 

1,386,578 

156,149 

3  144  2O1 

*The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 


ELECTION  OF  1852. 


85 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  9,  1853. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE- 
PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Franklin  Pierc". 
of  New  Hampshire. 

Winfleld  Scott, 
of  New  Jersey. 

William  R.  King, 
of  Alabama. 

William  A.  Graham, 
Of  North  Carolina. 

9 
4 
4 
6 
3 
3 
10 
11 
13 
4 

12 
13 

9 
4 
4 
6 
3 
3 
1O 
11 
13 
4 

6 

8 
8 

6 

7 
9 
5 
7 
35 
10 
23 
27 
4 
8 

4 

15 
5 

12 
13 

12 
5 

9 
4 
4 
6 
3 
3 
10 
11 
13 
4 
12 
G 
8 
8 
13 
6 
7 
9 
5 
7 
35 
1O 
23 
27 
4 
8 
12 
4 
5 
15 
5 

Arkansas  

Connecticut  

Delaware  .".  

Florida  

Illinois  

Iowa  

Louisiana,  

6 

8 
8 

Maryland  

Michigan  

6 

7 
9 
5 

7 
35 

Mississippi  

Missouri  

New  Jersey  

North  Carolina  

10 
23 

27 
4 
8 

12 
5 

Ohio  

Pennsylvania  

ItlHXlO     1  Si  Mil'!  

South  Carolina  

Tennessee  

Texas  

4 

Virginia  

15 
5 

Wisconsin  

Total  

254 

42 

254 

42 

290 

Franklin  Pierce  was  elected  President  and  William  R. 
King  as  Vice-President. 


86         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Thirty-third  Congress. 

Senate—  38  Democrats,  22  Whigs,  2  Free  Soil Total,    62 

House — 159  Democrats,  71  Whigs,  4  Free  Soil »       234 

Thirty-fourth  Congress. 

Senate — 42  Democrats,     15  Republicans,    5  Americans. ..  .Total,    62 
House — 83  Democrats,  108  Republicans,  43  Americans. ...     "       234 


ELECTION  OF  1856. 


87 


Democratic  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  DAVID  A.  SMALLEY,  of  Vermont. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  June  2-6,  1856. 
Chairman,  JOHN  E.  WARD, 

of  Georgia. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  James  Buchanan, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

For  Vice-President,  John  C.  Breekinridge, 

of  Kentucky. 

This  convention  organized  without  opposition  to  the 
two-thirds  rule.  Seventeen  ballots  were  necessary  to 
nominate  a  candidate  for  President,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  summary : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

7th. 

10th. 

14th. 

10th. 

17th. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN, 

135 

I  :..") 

147 

1  .V2 

168 

296 

FRANKLIN  PIERCE, 
of  Now  Hampshire  — 
STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS, 
of  Illinois  

1  '2-2 
33 

89 
58 

80 
02 

75 
03 

122 

LEWIS  CARS, 
of  Michigan  

5 

5 

5 

0 

Whole  No.  of  votes,  2OO. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,  198. 

88 


KATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


For  Vice-President,  John  C.  Breckinridge,  of  Kentucky, 
was  nominated  on  the  second  ballot  by  a  unanimous  vote. 
The  following  is  the  result  of  the  first  ballot: 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

JOHN  A.  QUITMANJ 

59 

AARON  V.  BROWN, 

20 

JOHN  (\  BRECKINRIDGE, 

JAMES  C.  DOBBIN, 

13 

LINN  Bo  YD, 
of  Kentucky  

BENJAMIN  FITZPATKICK, 
of  Alabama  

11 

HERSCHEL  V.JOHNSON, 

31 

TRUSTEN  POI-K, 

5 

JAMES  A.  BAYARD, 

31 

THOMAS  J.  KUSK, 

2 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFOKM. 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  American  Democracy  place  their  trust 
in  the  intelligence,  the  patriotism,  and  the  discriminating  jus- 
tice of  the  American  people. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we  regard  this  as  a  distinctive  feature  of 
our  political  creed,  which  we  are  proud  to  maintain  before  the 
world  as  the  great  moral  element  in  a  form  of  government 
springing  from  and  upheld  by  the  popular  will;  and  we  con- 
trast it  with  the  creed  and  practice  of  federalism,  under  what- 
ever name  or  form,  which  seeks  to  palsy  the  will  of  the  con- 
stituent, and  which  conceives  no  imposture  too  monstrous  for 
the  popular  credulity. 

3.  Resolved,    therefore,   That,    entertaining   these   views,    the 
Democratic  party  of  this  Union,  through  their  delegates  as- 
sembled in  a  general  convention  of  the  states,  coming  together 
in  a  spirit    of  concord,  of  devotion  to  the  doctrines  and  faith 
of  a  free  and  representative  government,   and  appealing  to 
their  fellow  citizens  for  the  rectitude  of  their  intentions,  renew 
and  reassert  before  the  American  people  the  declarations  of 
principles   avowed   by   th^tn   when,   on   former   occasions,   in 
general  convention,  they  presented  their  candidates  for  the 
popular  suffrage: 

1.  That  the  federal  government  is  one  of  limited  power, 
derived  solely  from  the  Constitution;  and  the  grants  of  power 
made  therein  ought  to  be  strictly  construed  by  all  the  depart- 


ELECTION  OF  185C.  89 

ments  and  agents  of  the  government;  and  that  it  is  inexpe- 
dient and  dangerous  to  exercise  doubtful  constitutional  powers. 

2.  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  upon  the  general 
government  the  power  to  commence  and  carry  on  a  general 
system  of  internal  improvements. 

3.  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  authority  upon  the 
federal  government,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  assume  the  debts 
of  the  several  states,  contracted  for  local  and  internal  improve- 
ments, or  other  state  purposes;   nor  would  such  assumption 
be  just  or  expedient. 

4.  That  justice  and  sound  policy  forbid  the  federal  govern- 
ment to  foster  one  branch  of  industry  to  the  detriment  of  any 
other,  or  to  cherish  the  interests  of  one  portion  to  the  injury 
of  another  portion  of  our  common  country;  that  every  citizen 
and  every  section  of  the  country  has  a  right  to  demand  and 
insist  upon  an  equality  of  rights  and  privileges,  and  to  com- 
plete and  ample  protection  of  person  and  property  from  domes- 
tic violence  or  foreign  aggression. 

5.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  branch  of  the  government  to 
enforce  and  practice  the  most  rigid  economy  in   conducting 
our  public  affairs,  and  that  no  more  revenue  ought  to  be  raised 
than  is  required  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  gov- 
ernment and  for  the  gradual  but  certain  extinction   of  the 
public  debt. 

6.  That  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  ought  to  be  sacredly 
applied  to  the  national  objects  specified  in  the  Constitution; 
and  that  we  are  opposed  to  any  law  for  the  distribution  of 
such  proceeds  among  the  states,  as  alike  inexpedient  in  policy 
and  repugnant  to  the  Constitution. 

7.  That  Congress  has  no  power  to  charter  a  national  bank; 
that  we  believe  such  an  institution  one  of  deadly  hostility  to 
the  best  interests  of  the  country,  dangerous  to  our  republican 
institutions  and  the  liberties  of  the  people,  and  calculated  to 
place  the   business  of  the   country   within   the  control   of  a 
concentrated  money  power  and  above  the  laws  and  the  will  of 
the  people;  and  that  the  results  of  Democratic  legislation  in 
this  and  all  other  financial  measures  upon  which  issues  have 
been  made  between  the  two  political  parties  of  the  country 
have  demonstrated  to  candid  and  practical  men  of  all  parties, 
their  soundness,  safety,  and  utility  in  all  business  pursuits. 

8.  That  the  separation  of  the  moneys  of  the   government 
from  banking  institutions  is  indispensable  for  the  safety  of 
the  funds  of  the  government  and  the  rights  of  the  people. 


90         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

9.  That  we  are  decidedly  opposed  to  taking  from  the  Presi- 
dent the  qualified  veto  power,  by  which  he  is  enabled,  under 
restrictions  and  responsibilities  amply  sufficient  to  guard  the 
public  interests,  to  suspend  the  passage  of  a  bill  whose  merits 
cannot  secure  the  approval  of  two  thirds  of  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives,  until  the  judgment  of  the  people 
can  be  obtained  thereon,  and  which  has  saved  the  American 
people  from   the  corrupt  and  tyrannical   domination   of  the 
Bank  of  the  United  States  and  from  a  corrupting  system  of 
general  internal  improvements 

10.  That  the  liberal  principles  embodied  by  Jefferson  in  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  sanctioned  in  the  Constitu- 
tion, which  make  ours  the  land  of  liberty  and  the  asylum  of 
the  oppressed  of  every  nation,  have  ever  been  cardinal  prin- 
ciples in  the  Democratic  faith,  and  every  attempt  to  abridge 
the  privilege   of  becoming  citizens   and   the   owners   of   soil 
among  us  ought  to  be  resisted  with  the  same  spirit  which 
swept  the  Alien  and  Sedition  laws  from  our  statute-books;  and 

Wliereas,  Since  the  foregoing  declaration  was  uniformly 
adopted  by  our  predecessors  in  national  conventions,  an  ad- 
verse political  and  religious  test  has  been  secretly  organized 
by  a  party  claiming  to  be  exclusively  American,  and  it  is 
proper  that  the  American  Democracy  should  clearly  define  its 
relation  thereto,  and  declare  its  determined  opposition  to  all 
secret  political  societies,  by  whatever  name  they  may  be  called. 

Resolved,  That  the  foundation  of  this  Union  of  States  having 
been  laid  in,  and  its  prosperity,  expansion,  and  pre-eminent 
example  in  free  government  built  upon,  entire  freedom  in 
matters  of  religious  concernment,  and  no  respect  of  person  in 
regard  to  rank  or  place  of  birth,  no  party  can  justly  be  deemed 
national,  constitutional,  or  in  accordance  with  American  prin- 
ciples which  bases  its  exclusive  organization  upon  religious 
opinions  and  accidental  birthplace.  And  hence  a  political 
crusade  in  the  nineteenth  century,  and  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  against  Catholic  and  foreign-born  is  neither  justified 
by  the  past  history  or  the  future  prospects  of  the  country,  nor 
in  unison  with  the  spirit  of  toleration  and  enlarged  freedom 
which  peculiarly  distinguishes  the  American  system  of  popular 
government. 

Resolved,  That  we  reiterate  with  renewed  energy  of  purpose 
the  well-considered  declarations  of  former  conventions  upon 
the  sectional  issue  of  domestic  slavery  and  concerning  the 
reserved  rights  of  the  states: — 


ELECTION  OF  1856.  91 

1.  That  Congress  has  no  power  under  the  Constitution  to 
interfere  with  or  control  the  domestic  institutions  of  the  sev- 
eral states,  and  that  such  states  are  the  sole  and  proper  judges 
of  everything  appertaining  to  their  own  affairs  not  prohibited 
by  the  Constitution;   that  all  efforts  of  the  Abolitionists,  or 
others,  made  to  induce  Congress  to  interfere  with  questions  of 
slavery,  or  to  take  incipient  steps  in  relation  thereto,  are  cal- 
culated to  lead  to  the  most  alarming  and  dangerous  conse-, 
quences,  and  that  all  such  efforts  have  an  inevitable  tendency 
to  diminish  the  happiness  of  the  people  and  endanger  the  sta- 
bility and   permanency  of  the  Union,   and  ought  not  to   be 
countenanced  by  any  friend  of  our  political  institutions. 

2.  That  the  foregoing  proposition  covers,  and  was  intended 
to  embrace  the  whole  subject  of  slavery  agitation  in  Congress; 
and  therefore  the  Democratic  party  of  the  Union,  standing  on 
this  national  platform,  will  abide  by  and  adhere  to  a  faithful 
execution  of  the  acts  known  as  the  "  compromise  "  measures, 
settled  by  the  Congress  of  1850;  "the  act  for  reclaiming  fugi- 
tives from  service  or  labor  "  included,  which  act,  being  de- 
signed to  carry  out  an  express  provision  of  the  Constitution, 
cannot,  with  fidelity  thereto,  be  repealed  or  so  changed  as  to 
destroy  or  impair  its  efficiency. 

3.  That  the  Democratic  party  will  resist  all  attempts  at  re- 
newing, in  Congress  or  out  of  it,  the  agitation  of  the  slavery 
question,  under  whatever  shape  or  color  the  attempt  may  be 
made. 

4.  That  the  Democratic  party  will  faithfully  abide  by  and 
uphold  the  principles  laid  down  in  the  Kentucky  and  Virginia 
resolutions  of  1798,  and  in  the  report  of  Mr.  Madison  to  the 
Virginia  Legislature  in  1799;  that  it  adopts  those  principles  as 
constituting  one  of  the  main  foundations  of  its  political  creed, 
and  is  resolved  to  carry  them  out  in  their  obvious  meaning 
and  import. 

And  that  we  may  more  distinctly  meet  the  issue  on  which  a 
sectional  party,  subsisting  exclusively  on  slavery  agitation, 
now  relies  to  test  the  fidelity  of  the  people,  North  and  South, 
to  the  Constitution  and  the  Union — 

1.  Resolved,  That,  claiming  fellowship  with  and  desiring  the 
co-operation  of  all  who  regard  the  preservation  of  the  Union 
under  the  Constitution  as  the  paramount  issue,  and  repudiating 
all  sectional  parties  and  platforms  concerning  domestic  slav- 
ery which  seek  to  embroil  the  states  and  incite  to  treason  and 
armed  resistance  to  law  in  the  territories,  and  whose  avowed 


92         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

purposes,  if  consummated,  must  end  in  civil  war  and  disunion, 
the  American  Democracy  recognize  and  adopt  the  principles 
contained  in  the  organic  laws  establishing  the  Territories  of 
Kansas  and  Nebraska  as  embodying  the  only  sound  and  safe 
solution  of  the  "  slavery  question "  upon  which  the  great 
national  idea  of  the  people  of  this  whole  country  can  repose 
in  its  determined  conservatism  of  the  Union — NON-INTERFER- 
ENCE BY  CONGRESS  WITH  SLAVERY  IN  STATE  AND  TERRITORY,  OB 
IN  THE  DISTRICT  or  COLUMBIA. 

2.  That  was  the  basis  of  the  compromises  of  1850 — confirmed 
by  both  the  Democratic  and  Whig  parties  in  national  conven- 
tions, ratified  by  the  people  in  the  election  of  1852,  and  rightly 
applied  to  the  organization  of  territories  in  1854. 

3.  That  by  the  uniform  application  of  this  Democratic  prin- 
ciple to  the  organization  of  territories  and  to  the  admission 
of  new  states,  with  or  without  domestic  slavery,  as  they  may 
elect,  the  equal  rights  of  all  the  states  will  be  preserved  intact, 
the  original  compacts  of  the  Constitution  maintained  invio- 
late, and  the  perpetuity  and  expansion  of  this  Union  insured 
to  its  utmost  capacity  of  embracing,  in  peace  and  harmony, 
every  future  American  state  that  may  be  constituted  or  an- 
nexed, with  a  republican  form  of  government. 

Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  right  of  the  people  of  all 
the  territories,  including  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  acting  through 
the  legally  and  fairly  expressed  will  of  a  majority  of  actual 
residents,  and  whenever  the  number  of  their  inhabitants  justi- 
fies it,  to  form  a  Constitution,  with  or  without  domestic  slav- 
ery, and  be  admitted  into  the  Union  upon  terms  of  perfect 
equality  with  the  other  states. 

Resolved,  finally,  That  in  view  of  the  condition  of  popular 
institutions  in  the  Old  World  (and  the  dangerous  tendencies  of 
sectional  agitation,  combined  with  the  attempt  to  enforce  civil 
and  religious  disabilities  against  the  rights  of  acquiring  and 
enjoying  citizenship  in  our  own  land),  a  high  and  sacred  duty 
is  devolved  with  increased  responsibility  upon  the  Democratic 
party  of  this  country,  as  the  party  of  the  Union,  to  uphold  and 
maintain  the  rights  of  every  state,  and  thereby  the  Union  of 
the  states;  and  to  sustain  and  advance  among  us  constitutional 
liberty,  by  continuing  to  resist  all  monopolies  and  exclusive 
legislation  for  the  benefit  of  the  few  at  the  expense  of  the 
many,  and  by  a  vigilant  and  constant  adherence  to  those  prin- 
ciples and  compromises  of  the  Constitution  which  are  broad 
enough  and  strong  enough  to  embrace  and  uphold  the  Union 


ELECTION  OF  1856.  93 

as  it  was,  the  Union  as  it  is,  and  the  Union  as  it  shall  be,  in 
the  full  expansion  of  the  energies  and  capacity  of  this  great 
and  progressive  people. 

1.  Resolved,  That  there  are  questions  connected  with  the  for- 
eign policy  of  this  country  which  are  inferior  to  no  domestic 
question  whatever.    The  time  has  come  for  the  people  of  the 
United  States  to  declare  themselves  in  favor  of  free  seas  and 
progressive  free  trade  throughout  the  world,  and,  by  solemn 
manifestations,  to  place  their  moral  influence  at  the  side  of 
their  successful  example. 

2.  Resolved,  That  our  geographical  and  political  position  with 
reference  to  the  other  states  of  this  continent,  no  less  than  the 
interest  of  our  commerce  and  the  development  of  our  growing 
power,  requires  that  we  should  hold  as  sacred  the  principles 
involved  in  the  Monroe  Doctrine.    Their  bearing  and  import 
admit   of  no  misconstruction;    they   should   be   applied   with 
unbending  rigidity. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  great  highway  which  nature,  as  well  as 
the  assent  of  the  states  most  immediately  interested  in  its 
maintenance,  has  marked  out  for  a  free  communication   be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  oceans,  constitutes  one  of 
the  most  important  achievements  realized   by   the   spirit  of 
modern  times  and  the  unconquerable  energy  of  our  people. 
That  result  should  be  secured  by  a  timely  and  efficient  exer- 
tion of  the  control  which  we  have  the  right  to  claim  over  it, 
and  no  power  on  earth  should  be  suffered  to  impede  or  clog 
its  progress  by  any  interference  with  the   relations  it  may 
suit  our  policy  to  establish  between  our  government  and  the 
governments  of  the  states  within  whose  dominions   it  lies. 
We  can,  under  no  circumstances,  surrender  our  preponderance 
in  the  adjustment  of  all  questions  arising  out  of  it. 

4.  Resolved,  That,  in  view  of  so  commanding  an  interest,  the 
people  of  the  United  States  cannot  but  sympathize  with  the 
efforts  which  are  being  made  by  the  people  of  Central  America 
to  regenerate  that  portion  of  the  continent  which  covers  the 
passage  across  the  interoceanic  isthmus. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  expect  of  the 
next  administration  that  every  proper  effort  be  made  to  insure 
our  ascendency  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  to  maintain  a  per- 
manent protection   to   the   great  outlets   through  which   are 
emptied  into  its  waters  the  products  raised  out  of  the  soil  and 
the  commodities  created  by  the  industry  of  the  people  of  our 
Western  valleys  and  the  Union  at  large. 


94         NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  recognizes  the  great 
importance,  in  a  political  and  commercial  point  of  view,  of  a 
safe  and  speedy  communication,  by  military  and  postal  roads, 
through  our  own  territory  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coasts  of  this  Union,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  federal 
government  to  exercise  promptly  all  its  constitutional  power 
for  the  attainment  of  that  object. 

Resolved,  That  the  administration  of  Franklin  Pierce  has 
been  true  to  the  great  interests  of  the  country.  In  the  face 
of  the  most  determined  opposition  it  has  maintained  the  laws, 
enforced  economy,  fostered  progress,  and  infused  integrity  and 
vigor  into  every  department  of  the  government  at  home.  It 
has  signally  improved  our  treaty  relations,  extended  the  field 
of  commercial  enterprise,  and  vindicated  the  rights  of  Ameri- 
can citizens  abroad.  It  has  asserted  with  eminent  impartiality 
the  just  claims  of  every  section,  and  has  at  all  times  been 
faithful  to  the  Constitution.  We  therefore  proclaim  our  un- 
qualified approbation  of  its  measures  and  its  policy, 

WHIG  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  September  17-18,  1856. 
Chairman,  EDWARD  BATES, 

of  Missouri. 

RATIFIED — 
For  President,  Millard  Fillmore, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Andrew  Jackson  Donelson, 

of  Tennessee. 

The  convention  ratified  the  nominations  of  the  American 
(Know-Nothing)  Convention  of  February  22,  1856.  At 
this  convention  26  states  were  represented.  California, 
Iowa,  Michigan,  Texas,  and  Wisconsin  were  not  repre- 
sented. The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

WHIG  PLATFORM. 

Resolved,  That  the  Whigs  of  the  United  States,  now  here 
assembled,  hereby  declare  their  reverence  for  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  their  unalterable  attachment  to  the 


ELECTION  OF  1856.  95 

national  Union,  and  a  fixed  determination  to  do  all  in  their 
power  to  preserve  them  for  themselves  and  their  posterity. 
They  have  no  new  principles  to  announce,  no  new  platform  to 
establish;  but  are  content  to  broadly  rest — where  their  fathers 
rested — upon  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  wishing 
no  safer  guide,  no  higher  law. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  with  the  deepest  interest  and 
anxiety  the  present  disordered  condition  of  our  national  affairs 
— a  portion  of  the  country  ravaged  by  civil  war,  large  sections 
of  our  population  embittered  by  mutual  recriminations;  and 
we  distinctly  trace  these  calamities  to  the  culpable  neglect  of 
duty  by  the  present  national  administration. 

Resolved,  That  the  government  of  the  United  States  was 
formed  by  the  conjunction  in  political  unity  of  widespread 
geographical  sections,  materially  differing,  not  only  in  climate 
and  products,  but  in  social  and  domestic  institutions;  and  that 
any  cause  that  shall  permanently  array  the  different  sections 
of  the  Union  in  political  hostility  and  organize  parties  founded 
only  on  geographical  distinctions,  must  inevitably  prove  fatal 
to  a  continuance  of  the  national  Union. 

Resolved,  That  the  Whigs  of  the  United  States  declare,  as  a 
fundamental  article  of  political  faith,  an  aosolute  necessity  for 
avoiding  geographical  parties.  The  danger,  so  clearly  dis- 
cerned by  the  Father  of  his  Country,  has  now  become  fearfully 
apparent  in  the  agitation  now  convulsing  the  nation,  and  must 
be  arrested  at  once  if  we  would  preserve  our  Constitution  and 
our  Union  from  dismemberment,  and  the  name  of  America 
from  being  blotted  out  from  the  family  of  civilized  nations. 

Resolved,  That  all  who  revere  the  Constitution  and  the 
Union  must  look  with  alarm  at  the  parties  in  the  field  in  the 
present  presidential  campaign — one  claiming  only  to  represent 
sixteen  Northern  States,  and  the  other  appealing  mainly  to 
the  passions  and  prejudices  of  the  Southern  States;  that  the 
success  of  either  faction  must  add  fuel  to  the  flame  which  now 
threatens  to  wrap  our  dearest  interests  in  a  common  ruin. 

Resolved,  That  the  only  remedy  for  an  evil  so  appalling  is  to 
support  a  candidate  pledged  to  neither  of  the  geographical 
sections  nor  arrayed  in  political  antagonism,  but  holding  both 
in  a  just  and  equal  regard.  We  congratulate  the  friends  of 
the  Union  that  such  a  candidate  exists  in  Millard  Fillmore. 

Resolved,  That,  without  adopting  or  referring  to  the  peculiar 
doctrines  of  the  party  which  has  already  selected  Mr.  Fillmore 
as  a  candidate,  we  look  to  him  as  a  well-tried  and  faithful 


96          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

friend  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  eminent  alike  for 
his  wisdom  and  firmness;  for  his  justice  and  moderation  in 
our  foreign  relations;  calm  and  pacific  temperament,  so  well 
becoming  the  head  of  a  great  nation;  for  his  devotion  to  the 
Constitution  in  its  true  spirit;  his  inflexibility  in  executing 
the  laws;  but,  beyond  all  these  attributes,  in  possessing  the 
one  transcendent  merit  of  being  a  representative  of  neither 
of  the  two  sectional  parties  now  struggling  for  political  su- 
premacy. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  present  exigency  of  political  affairs  we 
are  not  called  upon  to  discuss  the  subordinate  questions  of 
administration  in  the  exercise  of  the  constitutional  powers  of 
the  government.  It  is  enough  to  know  that  civil  war  is  raging, 
and  that  the  Union  is  in  peril;  and  we  proclaim  the  conviction 
that  the  restoration  of  Mr.  Fillmore  to  the  Presidency  will 
furnish  the  best,  if  not  the  only  means  of  restoring  peace. 


Republican  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  EDWI^  D.  MORGAN,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  N.  B.  JUDD,  of  Illinois. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  17,  1856. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ROBERT  EMMET, 

of  New  York. 

Chairman,  HENRY  S.  LANE, 

of  Indiana. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  John  C.  Fremont, 

of  California. 

For  Vice-President,  William  L.  Dayton, 

of  New  Jersey. 

This  was  the  first  National  Kepublican  Convention  held. 
The  delegates  were  not  chosen  by  any  settled  rule.     New 


ELECTION  OF  185C.  97 

York  with  96,  Pennsylvania  with  81,  and  Ohio  with  69 
votes  shows  the  size  of  some  of  the  delegations.  All  of  the 
Northern  States  were  represented,  as  were  Delaware,  Ken- 
tucky, Maryland,  and  Virginia. 

General  John  C.  Fremont  was  nominated  informally  on 
the  first  ballot,  receiving  359  votes ;  196  being  cast  for  John 
McLean,  of  Ohio;  2  for  Charles  Sumner,  of  Massachusetts, 
and  1  for  William  H.  Seward,  of  New  York.  On  a  formal 
ballot  Fremont  was  unanimously  nominated. 

On  an  informal  ballot  for  Vice- President,  William  L. 
Dayton,  of  New  Jersey,  received  259 ;  Abraham  Lincoln,  of 
Illinois,  110;  Nathaniel  P.  Banks,  of  Massachusetts,  46, 
while  12  other  candidates  received  some  votes  each.  On  a 
formal  ballot  Dayton  was  unanimously  nominated. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

EEPCBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

This  convention  of  delegates,  assembled  in  pursuance  of  a 
call  addressed  to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  without 
regard  to  past  political  differences  or  divisions,  who  are  op- 
posed to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  to  the  policy 
of  the  present  administration,  to  the  extension  of  slavery  into 
free  territory,  in  favor  of  admitting  Kansas  as  a  free  state, 
of  restoring  the  action  of  the  federal  government  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  Washington  and  Jefferson,  and  who  purpose  to  unite 
in  presenting  candidates  for  the  offices  of  President  and  Vice- 
President,  do  resolve  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  the  maintenance  of  the  principles  promul- 
gated in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  embodied  in 
the  federal  Constitution  is  essential  to  the  preservation  of  our 
republican  institutions,  and  that  the  federal  Constitution, 
the  rights  of  the  states,  and  the  union  of  the  states,  shall  be 
preserved. 

Resolved,  That,  with  our  republican  fathers,  we  hold  it  to  be 
a  self-evident  truth  that  all  men  are  endowed  with  the  in- 
alienable rights  to  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness, 
and  that  the  primary  object  and  ulterior  design  of  our  federal 
government  were  to  secure  these  rights  to  all  persons  within 


98          NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

its  exclusive  jurisdiction;  that,  as  our  republican  fathers,  when 
they  had  abolished  slavery  in  all  our  national  territory,  or- 
dained that  no  person  should  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or 
property  without  due  process  of  law,  it  becomes  our  duty  to 
maintain  this  provision  of  the  Constitution  against  all  at- 
tempts to  violate  it  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  slavery  in 
the  United  States,  by  positive  legislation  prohibiting  its  exist- 
ence or  extension  therein;  that  we  deny  the  authority  of 
Congress,  of  a  territorial  legislature,  of  any  individual  or 
association  of  individuals,  to  give  legal  existence  to  slavery  in 
any  territory  of  the  United  States  while  the  present  Constitu- 
tion shall  be  maintained. 

Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  confers  upon  Congress  sov- 
ereign power  over  the  territories  of  the  United  States  for  their 
government,  and  that  in  the  exercise  of  this  power  it  is  both 
the  right  and  the  duty  of  Congress  to  prohibit  in  the  territories 
those  twin  relics  of  barbarism,  polygamy,  and  slavery. 

Resolved,  That  while  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
was  ordained  and  established  by  the  people  "  in  order  to  form 
a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tran- 
quillity, provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general 
welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty,"  and  contains 
ample  provision  for  the  protection  of  the  life,  liberty,  and 
property  of  every  citizen,  the  dearest  constitutional  rights  of 
the  people  of  Kansas  have  been  fraudulently  and  violently 
taken  from  them;  their  territory  has  been  invaded  by  an 
armed  force;  spurious  and  pretended  legislative,  judicial,  and 
executive  officers  have  been  set  over  them,  by  whose  usurped 
authority,  sustained  by  the  military  power  of  the  government, 
tyrannical  and  unconstitutional  laws  have  been  enacted  and 
enforced;  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  has 
been  infringed;  test  oaths  of  an  extraordinary  and  entangling 
nature  have  been  imposed  as  a  condition  of  exercising  the 
right  of  suffrage  and  holding  office;  the  right  of  an  accused 
person  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury  has 
been  denied;  the  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their 
persons,  houses,  papers,  and  effects,  against  unreasonable 
searches  and  seizures,  has  been  violated;  they  have  been  de- 
prived of  life,  liberty,  and  property  without  due  process  of 
law;  that  the  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press  has  been 
abridged;  the  right  to  choose  their  representatives  has  been 


ELECTION  OF  1856.  99 

made  of  no  effect;  murders,  robberies,  and  arsons  have  been 
instigated  and  encouraged,  and  the  offenders  have  been  allowed 
to  go  unpunished;  that  all  these  things  have  been  done  with 
the  knowledge,  sanction,  and  procurement  of  the  present  ad- 
ministration; and  that  for  this  high  crime  against  the  Consti- 
tution, the  Union,  and  humanity,  we  arraign  the  administra- 
tion, the  President,  his  advisers,  agents,  supporters,  apologists, 
and  accessories,  either  before  or  after  the  fact,  before  the  coun- 
try and  before  the  world;  and  that  it  is  our  fixed  purpose  to 
bring  the  actual  perpetrators  of  these  atrocious  outrages,  and 
their  accomplices,  to  a  sure  and  condign  punishment  hereafter. 

Resolved,  That  Kansas  should  be  immediately  admitted  as  a 
state  of  the  Union,  with  her  present  free  Constitution,  as  at 
once  the  most  effectual  way  of  securing  to  her  citizens  the 
enjoyment  of  the  rights  and  privileges  to  which  they  are 
entitled,  and  of  ending  the  civil  strife  now  raging  in  her 
territory. 

Resolved,  That  the  highwayman's  plea,  that  "  might  makes 
right,"  embodied  in  the  Ostend  circular,  was  in  every  respect 
unworthy  of  American  diplomacy,  and  would  bring  shame  and 
dishonor  upon  any  government  or  people  that  gave  it  their 
sanction. 

Resolved,  That  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  the  most 
central  and  practicable  route  is  imperatively  demanded  by  the 
interests  of  the  whole  country,  and  that  the  federal  govern- 
ment ought  to  render  immediate  and  efficient  aid  in  its  con- 
struction; and  as  an  auxiliary  thereto,  to  the  immediate  con- 
struction of  an  emigrant  route  on  the  line  of  the  railroad. 

Resolved,  That  appropriations  by  Congress  for  the  improve- 
ment of  rivers  and  harbors  of  a  national  character,  required 
for  the  accommodation  and  security  of  our  existing  commerce, 
are  authorized  by  the  Constitution  and  justified  by  the  obliga- 
tion of  the  government  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  its 
citizens. 

Resolved,  That  we  invite  the  affiliation  and  co-operation  of 
freemen  of  all  parties,  however  differing  from  us  in  other 
respects,  in  support  of  the  principles  herein  declared;  and, 
believing  that  the  spirit  of  our  institutions  as  well  as  the 
Constitution  of  our  country,  guarantees  liberty  of  conscience 
and  equality  of  rights  among  citizens,  we  oppose  all  legisla- 
tion impairing  their  security. 


100        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


AMERICAN  (KNOW-NOTHING)  CONVENTION. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  February  22-25,  1856. 


Chairman,  EPHRAIM  MARSH, 

NOMINATED — 
For  President,  Millard  Fillmore, 


of  New  Jersey. 


of  New  York. 


For  Vice-President,  Andrew  Jackson  Donelson, 

of  Tennessee. 

Twenty-seven  states  were  represented  in  the  convention 
by  227  delegates;  Georgia,  Maine,  South  Carolina,  and 
Vermont  were  not  represented.  A  motion  to  proceed  to 
nominate  a  candidate  for  President  was  carried  by  a  vote 
of  151  to  51,  whereupon  nearly  all  the  delegates  from  New 
England,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Illinois,  and  Iowa  withdrew 
from  the  convention. 

After  an  informal  ballot  had  been  taken,  Millard  Fill- 
more  was  nominated  on  a  formal  ballot  as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

MILLARD  FILLMORE, 
of  New  York  

179 

JOHN  Me  LEAN, 
of  Ohio  

13 

GEORGE  LAW, 

24 

GARRETT  DAVIS, 

10 

KENNETH  RAYNOR, 
of  North  Carolina  

14 

SAMUEL  HOUSTON, 
of  Texas  

3 

Andrew  J.  Donelson  was  nominated  for  Vice-President 
on  the  first  ballot,  as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

ANDREW  J.  DONELSON, 
of  Tennessee  

181 

KENNETH  RAYNOR, 

8 

HENRY  J.  GARDNER, 
of  Massachusetts  

12 

PERCEY  WALKER, 

3 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform:- 


ELECTION  OF  1856.  101 

AMEKICAN  PLATFOKM. 

1.  An  humble  acknowledgment  to  the  Supreme  Being  for 
His  protecting  care  vouchsafed  to  our  fathers  in  their  success- 
ful revolutionary  struggle,  and  hitherto  manifested  to  us,  their 
descendants,  in  the  preservation  of  the  liberties,  the  independ- 
ence, and  the  union  of  these  states. 

2.  The  perpetuation  of  the  federal  Union  and  Constitution 
as  the  palladium  of  our  civil  and  religious  liberties,  and  the 
only  sure  bulwark  of  American  independence. 

3.  Americans  must  rule  America;   and  to  this  end  native- 
born   citizens  should  be  selected   for  all   state,   federal,  and 
municipal  government  employment,  in  preference  to  all  others. 
Nevertheless, 

4.  Persons  born  of  American  parents  residing  temporarily 
abroad  should  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights  of  native-born  citi- 
zens. 

5.  No  person  should  be  selected  for  political  station  (whether 
of  native  or  foreign  birth)   who  recognizes  any  allegiance  or 
obligation  of  any  description  to  any  foreign  prince,  potentate 
or  power,  or  who  refuses  to  recognize  the  federal  and  state 
Constitutions  (each  within  its  own  sphere)  as  paramount  to 
all  other  laws  as  rules  of  political  action. 

6.  The  unequalled  recognition  and  maintenance  of  the  re- 
served rights  of  the  several  states,  and  the  cultivation  of  har- 
mony and  fraternal  good-will  between  the  citizens  of  the  sev- 
eral states,  and,  to  this  end,  non-interference  by  Congress  with 
questions  appertaining  solely  to  the  individual  states,  and  non- 
intervention by  each  state  with  the  affairs  of  any  other  state. 

7.  The  recognition  of  the  right  of  native-born  and  natural- 
ized citizens  of  the  United  States,  permanently  residing  in  any 
territory  thereof,  to  frame  their  constitution  and  laws,  and  to 
regulate  their  domestic  and  social  affairs  in  their  own  mode, 
subject  only  to  the  provisions  of  the  federal  Constitution,  with 
the  privilege  of  admission  into  the  Union  whenever  the^  have 
the  requisite  population  for  one  representative  in  Congress. 

Provided,  That  none  but  those  who  are  citizens  of  the  United 
States  under  the  Constitution  and  laws  thereof,  and  who  have 
a  fixed  residence  in  any  such  territory,  are  to  participate  in 
the  formation  of  the  constitution  or  in  the  enactment  of  laws 
for  said  territory  or  state. 

8.  An  enforcement  of  the  principles  that  no  state  or  territory 
ought  to  admit  others  than  citizens  to  the  right  of  suffrage  or 
of  holding  political  offices  of  the  United  States. 

9.  A  change  in  the  laws  of  naturalization,  making  a  con- 


102        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

tinued  residence  of  twenty-one  years,  of  all  not  heretofore 
provided  for,  an  indispensable  requisite  for  citizenship  here- 
after, and  excluding  all  paupers  or  persons  convicted  of  crime 
from  landing  upon  our  shores;  but  no  interference  with  the 
vested  rights  of  foreigners. 

10.  Opposition  to  any  union  between  church  and  state;   no 
interference  with  religious  faith  or  worship;  and  no  test  oaths 
for  office. 

11.  Free  and  thorough  investigation  into  any  and  all  alleged 
abuses  of  public  functionaries,  and  a  strict  economy  in  public 
expenditures. 

12.  The  maintenance  and  enforcement  of  all  laws  constitu- 
tionally enacted,  until  said  laws  shall  be  repealed  or  shall  be 
declared  null  and  void  by  competent  judicial  authority. 

13.  Opposition   to   the   reckless    and   unwise    policy   of   the 
present    administration   in   the   general   management   of   our 
national  affairs,  and  more  especially  as  shown  in  removing 
"  Americans  "  (by  designation)  and  conservatives  in  principle, 
from  office,  and  placing  foreigners  and  ultraists  in  their  places; 
as  shown  in  a  truckling  subserviency  to  the  stronger,  and  an 
insolent  and  cowardly  bravado  toward  the  weaker  powers;  as 
shown  in  re-opening  sectional  agitation,  by  the  repeal  of  the 
Missouri  Compromise;  as  shown  in  granting  to  unnaturalized 
foreigners  the  right  of  suffrage  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska;  as 
shown  in  its  vacillating  course  on  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
question;   as  shown  in  the  corruptions  which  pervade  somo 
of  the  departments  of  the  government;  as  shown  in  disgracing 
meritorious  naval  officers  through  prejudiced  caprice;   and  as 
shown  in  the  blundering  mismanagement  of  our  foreign  rela- 
tions. 

14.  Therefore,  to  remedy  existing  evils  and  prevent  the  dis- 
astrous consequences  otherwise  resulting  therefrom,  we  would 
build  up  the  "  American  Party  "  upcn  the  principles  herein- 
before stated. 

15.  That  each  state  council  shall  have  authority  to  amend 
their  several  constitutions,  so  as  to  abolish  the  several  degrees 
and  substitute  a  pledge  of  honor,  instead  of  other  obligations, 
for  fellowship  and  admission  into  the  party. 

16.  A  free  and  open  discussion  of  all  political  principles  em- 
braced in  our  platform. 

NOTE. — The  seceding  delegates  from   this  convention 
soon   after    met,  and    nominated    John  C.  Fremont,  of 


ELECTION  OF  1856. 


103 


California,  for  President,  and  William  F.  Johnston,  of 
Pennsylvania,  for  Vice- President ;  but  they  adopted  no 
platform. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  4,  1856. 

THIKTY-ONE  STATES  VOTED. 

POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

James  Buchanan, 
Democrat. 

John  C.  Fremont, 
Republican. 

Millard  Fillmore, 
American  and 
Whig. 

Total  vote. 

Alabama  

46,739 

28,552 

75,291 

21  910 

1O787 

32  697 

53  365 

2O  691 

36  165 

11O  221 

34995 

42,715 

2615 

80  325 

8  OO4 

308 

6  175 

14  487 

6  358 

4833 

11  191 

5O  578 

42  228 

98  806 

Illinois  

105  348 

96  189 

37'444 

238  981 

118  67O 

94  375 

22  386 

235  431 

36  17O 

43954 

9  180 

89  304 

74  642 

67  416 

142  372 

22'  164 

20  709 

42  873 

39  O8O 

67  379 

3  325 

109  784 

39'  115 

281 

47  460 

86  850 

Massachusetts  

39,2-40 

108,190 

1  9,626 

167,or>6 

52  136 

71  762 

1  060 

125  ">•">>•> 

Mississippi  

35,446 

24,1!>5 

59,0-1! 

Missouri  
Now  Hampshire  

58,16-4 
32,789 

38,345 

48,524 
422 

lOO,i  >;;>< 
71,650 

46  91:: 

28,338 

24  115 

!>!'  .".!•.•; 

Now  York  

195,878 

276,007 

124,604 

B90,-l^!> 

48  246 

3G  HH(5 

85  If.'j 

Ohio  

17O  H74 

187  497 

98  126 

:>!>  •!')'• 

23O.71O 

147,510 

82  175 

4(»«  •;:  .-.  . 

6680 

11,467 

1,675 

19,82U 

*  Smith  Carol  ina  

73,<>:!s 

66,178 

139,810 

Texas  •      •         

31.169 

15  639 

•H>  80S 

Hi  .-.<;!> 

39,561 

545 

60,i  >V  •  • 

Virginia       

89  706 

291 

6031O 

1  r><  »  :?'  >7 

62,843 

66O90 

579 

119,  -•>!•: 

Total  

1,838,169 

1,341,  "6  1 

874,534 

4,053,907 

'  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 


104       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTOBAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  11,  1857. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE- 
PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

James  Buchanan, 
of  Pennsylvania. 

John  C.  Fremont, 
of  California. 

Millard  Fillmore, 
of  New  York. 

John  C.  Breckinridge, 
of  Kentucky. 

William  L.  Dayton, 
of  New  Jersey. 

Andrew  J.  Donelson, 
of  Tennessee. 

9 
4 
4 

6 
4 

9 
4 
4 

a 

3 

10 
11 
13 

12 
6 

7 

9 

7 
1O 
27 

8 
12 
4 

15  ' 

6 

4 

8 

13 
6 

5 
35 
23 
4 

6 
5 

8 

9 
4 
4 
6 
3 
3 
10 
11 
13 
4 
12 
« 
8 
8 
13 
6 
7 
9 
5 

J- 

?0 
•23 

i>7 
4 
8 
j'2 
4 
5 
15 
6 

Arkansas  

Connecticut  

3 
3 
1O 
11 
13 

Indiana  

12 

t> 

8 

8 

Maine  

Massachusetts  

13 
6 

5 

7 
9 

Missouri  

New  Jersey  

New  York  

35 
23 
4 

North  Carolina  

10 

Ohio  

27 

Rhode  Island  

8 
12 

Tennessee  

4 

5 
5 

15 

Wisconsin  

Total  

174 

114 

8 

174 

114 

8 

296 

James  Buchanan  Avas  elected  President  and  John  C. 
Breckinridge  as  Vice-President. 


ELECTION  OF  185C.  105 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Thirty -fifth  Congress. 

Senate —  39  Democrats,  20  Republicans,    5  Americans. . .  .Total,    64 
House — 131  Democrats,  92  Republicans,  14  Americans. ...     "       237 

Thirty-sixth  Congress. 

Senate —  38  Democrats,    26  Republicans,    2  Americans. .  .Total,    66 
House — 101  Democrats,  113  Republicans,  23  Americans. . .     "       237 


106       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1860 


Democratic  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  AUGUST  BELMONT,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  FKEDEKICK  0.  PKINCE,  of  Massachusetts. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Charleston,  S.  C.,  April  23, 1860. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  FRANCIS  B.  FLOURNOY, 

of  Arkansas. 

Chairman,  CALEB  GUSHING, 

of  Massachusetts. 

Every  state  was  represented  by  full  delegations.  After 
being  in  session  for  10  days  and  having  taken  57  ballots 
without  reaching  a  nomination,  the  convention  adjourned 
to  meet  in  Baltimore  on  June  18,  1860. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  ballots  taken  : — 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

10th. 

20th. 

30th. 

40th. 

57th. 

STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS, 
of  Illinois  

145 

150 

150 

151 

151 

151 

R.  M.  T.  HUNTER, 
of  Virginia  

42 

39 

26 

25 

16 

16 

JAMES  GUTHBIK, 

35 

39 

42 

42 

66 

65 

ANDREW  JOHNSON, 

12 

12 

12 

12 

DANIEL  S.  DICKINSON, 

7 

4 

13 

4 

JOSEPH  LANE, 

6 

5 

20 

7 

2 

14 

ISAAC  TOUCEY, 

2 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS, 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

FRANKLIN  FIERCE, 
of  New  Hampshire  — 

Whole  No.  of  votes,      303. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,  202. 

1 

ELECTION  OF  1860.  10? 

On  May  30  a  platform  was  agreed  to,  for  which  see  the 
resolutions  of  the  Baltimore  convention  of  1860. 

NOTE. — After  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions  many  of 
the  Southern  delegates  withdrew  from  the  convention. 
These  seceders  met  in  another  hall  in  Charleston,  and 
organized  a  convention  by  electing  Senator  James  A. 
Bayard,  of  Delaware,  as  Chairman;  and,  after  adopting 
resolutions  [see  the  Democratic  Platform  (BrecTcinridge), 
Baltimore,  June  18, 1860],  adjourned  to  meet  in  Kichmond, 
Va.,  on  June  11, 1860. 

DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION,  Adjourned  Meeting. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  June  18-23, 1860. 
Chairman,  CALEB  GUSHING, 

of  Massachusetts. 

2d  Chairman,  GOVERNOR  TOD, 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Herschel  V.  Johnson, 

of  Georgia. 

Three  whole  days  were  occupied  in  the  preliminary 
organization;  and  as  soon  as  the  organization  was  com- 
pleted, many  of  the  Southern  delegates  withdrew,  including 
the  presiding  officer,  Mr.  Gushing. 

Governor  Tod,  of  Ohio,  took  the  chair,  and  then  the  con- 
vention proceeded  to  ballot  for  a  candidate.  On  the  second 
ballot  Mr.  Douglas  was  declared  nominated.  Here  follow 
the  ballots: 


108        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS, 
of  Illinois  

173 

181 

JAMES  GUTHRIE, 

10 

5 

JOHN  C.  BBECKINRIDGE, 

5 

7 

For  Vice-President,  Benjamin  Fitzpatrick,  of  Alabama, 
was  nominated  on  the  first  ballot.  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  after- 
ward declined,  and  the  National  Democratic  Committee 
substituted  Herschel  V.  Johnson,  of  Georgia. 

The  convention  ratified  the  platform  adopted  at  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  on  Monday,  May  30, 1860,  and  added  a  further 
resolve,  being  No.  7  as  herein  printed.  The  following  is 
the  platform  as  agreed  upon  by  the  convention: — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

1.  Resolved,  That  we,  the  Democracy  of  the  Union,  in  con- 
vention assembled,  hereby  declare  our  affirmance  of  the  resolu- 
tions  unanimously   adopted   and   declared   as   a   platform   of 
principles  by  the  Democratic  Convention  at  Cincinnati  in  the 
year  1856,  believing  that  Democratic  principles  are  unchange- 
able in  their  nature  when  applied  to  the  same  subject-matters; 
and  we  recommend,  as  the  only  further  resolutions,  the  follow- 
ing:— Inasmuch  as  differences  of  opinion  exist  in  the  Demo- 
cratic party  as  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  powers  of  a 
territorial   legislature,   and  as   to   the  powers  and   duties  of 
Congress,  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  over 
the  institution  of  slavery  within  the  territories, — 

2.  Resolved,   That  the  Democratic  party  will  abide  by  the 
decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  on  the 
questions  of  constitutional  law. 

3.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  United  States  to  afford 
ample  and  complete  protection  to  all  its  citizens,  whether  at 
home  or  abroad,  and  whether  native  or  foreign. 

4.  Resolved,  That  one  of  the  necessities  of  the  age,  in  a  mili- 
tary, commercial,  and  postal  point  of  view,  is  speedy  commu- 
nication  between   the   Atlantic   and   Pacific    States;    and   the 
Democratic  party  pledge  such  constitutional  government  aid 
as  will  insure  the  construction  of  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific 
coast  at  the  earliest  practicable  period. 


ELECTION  OF  1860.  109 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the 
acquisition  of  the  Island  of  Cuba  on  such  terms  as  shall  be 
honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to  Spain. 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  enactments  of  state  legislatures  to  de- 
feat the  faithful  execution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  are  hos- 
tile in  character,  subversive  of  the  Constitution,  and  revolu- 
tionary in  their  effect. 

7.  Resolved,  That  it  is  in  accordance  with  the  true  interpre- 
tation of  the  Cincinnati  platform  that,  during  the  existence  of 
the  territorial  governments,  the  measure  of  restriction,  what- 
ever it  may  be,  imposed  by  the  federal  constitution  on   the 
power  of  the  territorial  legislature  over  the  subject  of  the 
domestic  relations,  as  the  same  has  been,  or  shall  hereafter  be, 
finally  determined  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
should  be  respected  by  all  good  citizens  and  enforced  with 
promptness  and  fidelity  by  every  branch  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment. 

(BRECKINRIDGE)  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  June  18-28,  1860. 
Chairman,  CALEB  GUSHING, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  John  C.  Breckinridge, 

of  Kentucky. 

For  Vice-President,  Joseph  Lane, 

of  Oregon. 

The  nominations  of  Breckinridge  and  Lane  were  accom- 
plished by  bolting  factions  of  the  regular  Democratic  con- 
vention. The  first  bolt  was  made  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  at 
the  meeting  of  April  23  to  May  3,  1860.  The  bolting 
faction  organized  by  electing  Senator  James  A.  Bayard,  of 
Delaware,  Chairman.  After  adopting  the  resolutions 
rejected  by  the  Charleston  convention,  they  adjourned  to 
meet  in  Richmond,  Va.,  on  June  11,  1860.  On  reassemb- 
ling, John  Erwin,  of  Alabama,  was  chosen  Chairman; 
after  which  they  adjourned  until  June  28,  1860,  when  the 


110       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

nominations  of  Breckinridge  and  Lane,  previously  made  by 
the  bolters  at  Baltimore,  were  ratified. 

The  second  bolt  was  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  the  reassemb- 
ling of  the  convention  which  had  met  at  Charleston,  S.  C. 
The  presiding  officer,  Caleb  Gushing,  with  most  of  the 
Southern  delegates,  finding  themselves  in  a  minority,  with- 
drew, and  organized  another  convention,  over  which  Mr. 
Gushing  presided.  Twenty-one  states  were  represented, 
but  no  delegates  were  present  from  Connecticut,  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Iowa,  Maine,  Michigan,  New  Hampshire,  New 
Jersey,  Ohio,  Ehode  Island,  South  Carolina,  and  Wisconsin. 
John  C.  Breckinridge,  of  Kentucky,  for  President,  and 
Joseph  Lane,  of  Oregon,  for  Vice-President,  were  unani- 
mously nominated. 

The  following  platform  (which  had  been  reported  by  a 
majority  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  in  the  Charleston 
convention,  and  was  afterward  rejected)  was  adopted: — 

(BRECKINRIDGE)  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Democratic  party 
at  Cincinnati  be  affirmed,  with  the  following  explanatory  reso- 
lutions: 

1.  That  the  government  of  a  territory  organized  by  an  act 
of   Congress   is   provisional   and   temporary,    and    during   its 
existence  all  citizens  of  the  United  States  have  an  equal  right 
to  settle  with  their  property  in  the  territory,  without  their 
rights,  either  of  person  or  property,  being  destroyed  or  im- 
paired by  congressional  or  territorial  legislation. 

2.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  federal  government,  in  all  its 
departments,  to  protect,  when  necessary,  the  rights  of  persons 
and  property  in  the  territories,  and  wherever  else  its  constitu- 
tional authority  extends. 

3.  That  when  the  settlers  in  a  territory,  having  an  adequate 
population,  form  a  state  constitution,  the  right  of  sovereignty 
commences,  and,  being  consummated  by  admission  into  the 
Union,  they  stand  on   an   equal  footing  with   the  people  of 
other  states;   and  the  State  thus  organized  ought  to  be  ad- 
mitted into  the  federal  Union,  whether  its  constitution  pro- 
hibits or  recognizes  the  institution  of  slavery. 

4.  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisition 


ELECTION  OF  1860.  Ill 

cf  the  Island  of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  honorable  to 
ourselves  and  just  to  Spain,  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 

5.  That  the  enactments  of  state  legislatures  to  defeat  the 
faithful  execution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  are  hostile  in 
character,  subversive  of  the  Constitution,  and  revolutionary  in 
their  effect. 

6.  The  Democracy  of  the  United  States  recognize  it  as  the 
imperative  duty  of  this  government  to  protect  the  naturalized 
citizen  in  all  his  rights,  whether  at  home  or  in  foreign  lands, 
to  the  same  extent  as  its  native-born  citizens. 

Whereas,  One  of  the  greatest  necessities  of  the  age,  in  a 
political,  commercial,  postal,  and  military  point  of  view,  is  a 
speedy  communication  between  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic  coasts; 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  National  Democratic  Party  do  hereby 
pledge  themselves  to  use  every  means  in  their  power  to  secure 
the  passage  of  some  bill,  to  the  extent  of  the  constitutional 
authority  of  Congress,  for  the  construction  of  a  Pacific  railroad 
from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  at  the  earliest 
practicable  moment. 


Republican  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  EDWIN  D.  MOIIGAN,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  EDWAED  McPnEKSON,  of  Pennsylvania. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  May  16-18,  I860. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  DAVID  WILMOT, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Chairman,  GEORGE  ASHMUN, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Abraham  Lincoln, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Hannibal  Hamlin, 

of  Maine. 


H2       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Delegates  were  present  from  all  of  the  free  states,  as  also 
from  Delaware,  Kentucky,  Maryland,  Missouri,  Texas,  and 
Virginia,  and  from  the  Territories  of  Kansas,  Nebraska, 
and  the  District  of  Columbia.  Three  ballots  were  taken, 
with  the  following  result: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

"WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD, 
of  New  York  

173 

184 

180 

ABBAHAM  LINCOLN, 
of  Illinois  

102 

181 

231 

SIMON  CAMERON, 

50 

2 

SALMON  P.  CHASE, 
of  Ohio  

49 

42 

24 

EDWARD  BATES, 
of  Missouri  

48 

35 

2'2 

WILLIAM  L.  DAYTON, 
of  New  Jersey  

14 

10 

JOHN  MCLEAN, 
of  Ohio  

12 

8 

5 

JACOB  COLLAMER, 
of  Vermont  

"0 

Whole  number  of  votes,  465. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,      233. 

Then  Lincoln  was  nominated  by  the  quick  changing  of 
four  votes  from  Ohio,  when  one  delegation  after  another 
changed  in  his  favor  until  354  votes  were  recorded  for 
him.  On  motion  of  Mr.  W.  M.  Evarts,  of  New  York,  the 
nomination  was  made  unanimous. 

For  Vice- President,  Hannibal  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  was 
nominated  on  the  second  ballot.  The  following  is  the  vote: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

HANNIBAL  HAMLIN, 

194 

367 

CASSIUS  M.  CLAY, 

101 

86 

JOHN  HICKMAN,  ' 

58 

13 

ANDREW  H.  KEEDEK, 

51 

NATHANIEL  P.  BANKS, 

38 

ELECTION  OF  1860.  113 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  delegated  representatives  of  the  Re- 
publican electors  of  the  United  States,  in  convention  assem- 
bled, in  discharge  of  the  duty  we  owe  to  our  constituents  and 
our  country,  unite  in  the  following  declarations: 

1.  That  the  history  of  the  nation  during  the  last  four  years 
has  fully  established  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  the  organi- 
zation and  perpetuation  of  the  Republican  party,  and  that  the 
causes  which  called  it  into  existence  are  permanent  in  their 
nature,  and  now,  more  than  ever  before,  demand  its  peaceful 
and  constitutional  triumph. 

2.  That  the  maintenance  of  the  principles  promulgated  in 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  embodied  in  the  federal 
Constitution,  "  That  all  men  are  created  equal;  that  they  are 
endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights;  that 
among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness; 
that  to  secure  these  rights,  governments  are  instituted  among 
men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned,"— is  essential  to  the  preservation  of  our  republican  in- 
stitutions; and  that  the  federal  Constitution,  the  rights  of  the 
states,  and  the  union  of  the  states  must  and  shall  be  preserved. 

3.  That  to  the  union  of  the  states  this  nation  owes  its  un- 
precedented increase  in  population,  its  surprising  development 
of  material  resources,  its  rapid  augmentation  of  wealth,  its 
happiness  at  home  and  its  honor  abroad;  and  we  hold  in  ab- 
horrence all  schemes  for  disunion,  come  from  whatever  source 
they  may;  and  we  congratulate  the  country  that  no  Republi- 
can  member   of  Congress   has   uttered   or   countenanced   the 
threats  of  disunion  so  often  made  by  Democratic  members, 
without  rebuke  and  with  applause  from  their  political  asso- 
ciates; and  we  denounce  those  threats  of  disunion,  in  case  of  a 
popular  overthrow  of  their  ascendency,  as  denying  the  vital 
principles  of  a  free  government,  and  as  an  avowal  of  contem- 
plated treason,  which  it  is  the  imperative  duty  of  an  indig- 
nant people  sternly  to  rebuke  and  forever  silence. 

4.  That  the  maintenance  inviolate  of  the  rights  of  the  states, 
and  especially  the  right  of  each  state  to  order  and  control  its 
own  domestic  institutions  according  to  its  own  judgment  ex- 
clusively, is  essential  to  that  balance  of  power  on  which  the 
perfection  and  endurance  of  our  political  fabric  depends;  and 
we  denounce  the  lawless  invasion  by  armed  force  of  the  soil 


114       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

or  any  state  or  territory,  no  matter  under  what  pretext,  as 
among  the  gravest  of  crimes. 

5.  That  the  present  Democratic  administration  has  far  ex- 
ceeded our  worst  apprehensions,  in  its  measureless   subser- 
viency to  the  exactions  of  a  sectional  interest,  as  especially 
evinced  in  its  desperate  exertions  to  force  the  infamous  Le- 
compton  constitution  upon  the  protesting  people  of  Kansas; 
in  construing  the  personal  relations  between  master  and  serv- 
ant to  involve  an  unqualified  property  in  persons;   in  its  at- 
tempted enforcement  everywhere,  on  land  and  sea,   through 
the  intervention  of  Congress  and  of  the  federal  courts,  of  the 
extreme  pretensions   of   a   purely  local   interest;    and  in   its 
general  and  unvarying  abuse  of  the  power  intrusted  to  it  by  a 
confiding  people. 

6.  That  the  people  justly  view  with  alarm  the  reckless  ex- 
travagance which  pervades  every  department  of  the  federal 
government;    that  a  return  to  rigid  economy  and  accounta- 
bility is  indispensable  to  arrest  the  systematic  plunder  of  the 
public  treasury  by  favored  partisans,  while  the  recent  startling 
developments  of  frauds  and  corruptions  at  the  federal  metro- 
polis show  that  an  entire  change  of  administration  is  impera- 
tively demanded. 

7.  That  the  new  dogma, — that  the  Constitution,  of  its  own 
force,  carries  slavery  into  any  or  all  of  the  territories  of  the 
United   States, — is  a  dangerous  political  heresy,   at  variance 
with  the  explicit   provisions   of  that  instrument  itself,   with 
contemporaneous  exposition,  and  with  legislative  and  judicial 
precedent;  is  revolutionary  in  its  tendency  and  subversive  of 
the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  country. 

8.  That   the   normal   condition   of   all   the   territory  of  the 
United   States  is   that   of   freedom;    that,   as   our   republican 
fathers,  when  they  had  abolished  slavery  in  all  our  national 
territory,   ordained   that   "  no  person   should  be   deprived   of 
life,  liberty,  or  property  without  due  process  of  law,"  it  be- 
comes our  duty,  by  legislation,  whenever  such  legislation  is 
necessary,    to    maintain    this    provision    of    the    Constitution 
against  all  attempts  to  violate  it;  and  we  deny  the  authority 
of  Congress,  of  a  territorial  legislature,  or  of  any  individuals, 
to  give  legal  existence  to  slavery  in  any  territory  of  the  United 
States. 

9.  That  we  brand  the  recent  reopening  of  the  African  slave 
trade,  under  the  cover  of  our  national  flag,  aided  by  perver- 
sions of  judicial  power,  as  a  crime  against  humanity  and  a 


ELECTION  OF  1860.  115 

burning  shame  to  our  country  and  age;  and  we  call  upon 
Congress  to  take  prompt  and  efficient  measures  for  the  total 
and  final  suppression  of  that  execrable  traffic. 

10.  That  in  the  recent  vetoes,  by  their  federal  governors,  of 
the  acts  of  the  legislatures   of   Kansas   and   Nebraska,   pro- 
hibiting slavery  in  those  territories,  we  find  a  practical  illus- 
tration of  the  boasted  Democratic  principle  of  non-interven- 
tion   and    popular    sovereignty,    embodied    in    the    Kansas- 
Nebraska  Bill,  and  a  demonstration  of  the  deception  and  fraud 
involved  therein. 

11.  That  Kansas  should  of  right  be  immediately  admitted  as 
a  state  under  the  constitution  recently  formed  and  adopted  by 
her  people  and  accepted  by  the  House  of  Representatives. 

12.  That,   while  providing  revenue  for  the   support  of  the 
general  government  by  duties  upon  imports,  sound  policy  re- 
quires such  an  adjustment  of  these  imposts  as  to  encourage  the 
development  of  the  industrial  interests  of  the  whole  country; 
and  we  commend   that  policy  of  national   exchanges   which 
secures  to  the  workingmen  liberal  wages,  to  agriculture  re- 
munerative prices,  to  mechanics  and  manufacturers  an  ade- 
quate reward  for  their  skill,  labor,  and  enterprise,  and  to  the 
nation  commercial  prosperity  and  independence. 

13.  That  we  protest  against  any  sale  or  alienation  to  others 
of  the  public  lands  held  by  actual  settlers,  and  against  any 
view  of  the  free-homestead  policy  which  regards  the  settlers 
as  paupers  or  suppliants  for  public  bounty;   and  we  demand 
the   passage   by  Congress   of   the   complete   and   satisfactory 
homestead  measure  which  has  already  passed  the  House. 

14.  That  the  Republican  party  is  opposed  to  any  change  in 
our  naturalization  laws,  or  any  state  legislation  by  which  the 
rights  of  citizens  hitherto  accorded  to  immigrants  from  foreign 
lands  shall  be  abridged  or  impaired;  and  in  favor  of  giving  a 
full  and   efficient   protection  to   the   rights   of  all   classes   of 
citizens,   whether   native   or   naturalized,   both   at   home   and 
abroad. 

15.  That  appropriations  by  Congress  for  river  and  harbor 
improvements  of  a  national  character,  required  for  the  accom- 
modation and  security  of  an  existing  commerce,  are  authorized 
by  the  Constitution  and  justified  by  the  obligation  of  govern- 
ment to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  its  citizens. 

16.  That  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  is  imperatively  de- 
manded by  the  interests  of  the  whole  country;  that  the  federal 
government  ought  to  render  immediate  and  efficient  aid  in  its 


116       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

construction;  and  that,  as  preliminary  thereto,  a  daily  over- 
land mail  should  be  promptly  established. 

17.  Finally,  having  thus  set  forth  our  distinctive  principles 
and  views,  we  invite  the  co-operation  of  all  citizens,  however 
differing  on  other  questions,  who  substantially  agree  with  us 
in  their  affirmance  and  support. 


CONSTITUTIONAL  UNION  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  May  9,  1860. 
Chairman,  WASHINGTON  HUNT, 

of  New  York. 

NOMINATED — 


For  President,  John  Bell, 


of  Tennessee. 


For  Vice-President,  Edward  Everett, 

of  Massachusetts. 

This  was  the  first  and  only  general  convention  held  by 
the  party.  Most  of  the  states  were  represented.  Two 
ballots  were  necessary  to  nominate.  John  Bell  was 
nominated  for  President  on  the  second  ballot.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  vote : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

JOHN  BELL, 

68 

138 

SAMUEL  HOUSTON, 
of  Texas  

57 

68 

JOHN  J.  CBITTENDEN, 

28 

8 

EDWARD  EVERETT, 

25 

9 

JOHN  MCLEAN, 
of  Ohio  

22 

WILLIAM  A.  GRAHAM, 

22 

18 

WILLIAM  C  RIVES, 
of  Virginia  

9 

5 

WILLIAM  L.  SHARKEY, 

6 

5 

WILLIAM  L.  GOOGIN, 

3 

ELECTION  OF  1860.  117 

For  Vica-President,  Edward  Everett,  of  Massachusetts, 
was  nominated  by  a  unanimous  vote. 
The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

CONSTITUTIONAL  UNION  PLATFORM. 

Whereas,  Experience  has  demonstrated  that  platforms 
adopted  by  the  partisan  conventions  of  the  country  have  had 
the  effect  to  mislead  and  deceive  the  people,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  widen  the  political  divisions  of  the  country,  by  the 
creation  and  encouragement  of  geographical  and  sectional 
parties;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  it  is  both  the  part  of  patriotism  and  of  duty 
to  recognize  no  political  principles  other  than  THE  CONSTITU- 
TION OP  THE  COUNTRY,  THE  UNION  OP  THE)  STATES,  AND  THE 

ENFORCEMENT  OP  THE  LAWS;  and  that,  as  representatives  of 
the  Constitutional  Union  men  of  the  country,  in  national  con- 
vention assembled,  we  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  maintain, 
protect,  and  defend,  separately  and  unitedly,  these  great  prin- 
ciples of  public  liberty  and  national  safety,  against  all  ene- 
mies, at  home  and  abroad;  believing  that  thereby  peace  may 
once  more  be  restored  to  the  country;  the  rights  of  the  people 
and  of  the  states  re-established,  and  the  government  again 
placed  in  that  condition  of  justice,  fraternity,  and  equality 
which,  under  the  example  and  Constitution  of  our  fathers,  has 
solemnly  bound  every  citizen  of  the  United  States  to  maintain 
a  more  perfect  Union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tran- 
quillity, provide  for  common  defense,  promote  the  general 
welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and 
our  posterity. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  6,  1860. 
THIRTY-THREE  STATES  VOTED. 


118       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Abraham  Lincoln, 
Republican. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
Democrat. 

John  C.  Breckinridge, 
Independent  Democrat. 

John  Bell, 
Constitutional  Union. 

Total 
vote. 

13,651 

48,831 

27,825 

90  307 

Arkansas  

5,227 

28,732 

20,094 

54  053 

39  173 

38  516 

34  334 

6  817 

118  840 

Connecticut  

43,692 

15,522 

14,641 

3,291 

77  146 

3  815 

1  023 

7  347 

3864 

16  O49 

Florida  

367 

8  543 

5  437 

14  347 

Georgia  

11  590 

51  889 

42,886 

106*365 

172  161 

160  215 

2  404 

3,913 

338  693 

Indiana  

139  033 

115  5O9 

12  295 

5,3O6 

272  143 

7O  409 

55  111 

1  O48 

1,763 

128  331 

Kentucky  

1  364 

25  651 

53,143 

66,058 

146'216 

7  625 

22  681 

2O,2O4 

5O  51O 

Maine  

62  811 

26  693 

6  368 

2,046 

97  918 

2  294 

5  966 

42482 

41,76O 

92  5O2 

Massachusetts  

106  533 

34  372 

5  939 

22,331 

169'l75 

88  480 

65  057 

805 

405 

154  747 

Minnesota  

22,O69 

11  920 

748 

62 

34  799 

Mississippi  

3,283 

40,797 

25,O4O 

69,12O 

Missouri  

17,O28 

58,801 

31,317 

58,372 

165  518 

37  519 

25  881 

2  112 

441 

65  953 

New  Jersey  

58,324 

62,801 

121  125 

New  York  

362  646 

312,510 

675  156 

2  701 

48  339 

44  990 

96  030 

Ohio  

231  610 

187,232 

11,405 

12,194 

412*44  1 

5  270 

3  951 

3  OO6 

183 

12  41O 

Pennsylvania  

268,030 

16,765 

178,871 

12,776 

476,442 

12  244 

7,707 

19  951 

*South  Carolina  

Tennessee  

11  350 

64,709 

69,274 

145  333 

47  548 

15  438 

62  986 

Vermont  

33  808 

6,849 

1,969 

218 

42  844 

1  929 

16  290 

74  323 

74  681 

167  223 

Wisconsin  

86,110 

65,021 

888 

161 

152,180 

Total  

1  866  352 

1  375  157 

847  514 

587  830 

4  676  853 

'  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 


ELECTION  OF  1860. 


119 


ELECTORAL   VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  13,  1861. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Abraham  Lincoln, 
of  Illinois. 

John  C.  Breckinridge, 
of  Kentucky. 

John  Hell, 
of  Tennessee. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
of  Illinois. 

Hannibal  Hamlin, 
of  Maine. 

aT  . 

§§ 

*J 
0.0 

lo 
^ 

Edward  Everett, 
of  Massachusetts. 

Herschel  V.  Johnson, 
of  Georgia. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Alabama  

9 
4 

a 

3 

10 

4 
6 

9 
4 

3 
;j 

9 
4 
4 
6 
3 
3 
1O 
11 
13 
4 
12 
6 
8 
8 
13 
6 
4 
7 
9 
6 
7 
35 
1O 
23 
3 
27 
4 
8 
12 
4 
6 
15 
5 

California  

4 
6 

Delaware  

Florida  

Georg  ia  

12 

9 

3 

11 
13 
4 

8 

13 
6 
4 

5 

4 
35 

23 
3 

27 
4 

5 

1O 

6 

8 

7 
10 

8 
4 

12 

12 
16 

9 
8 

Illinois  

11 
13 
4 

Indiana  

Kentucky  

6 

8 

7 

Maine  

8 

Massachusetts  

13 
6 
4 

M  ichigan  

M  innesota  

Missouri  

New  Hampshire  

5 
4 
35 

10 
8 

12 
15 

New  Jerse'y  

New  York  

North  Carolina  

Ohio  

23 
3 
27 
4 

Tennessee  

4 

6 

Virginia                          

5 

180 

72 

5 

180 

Total  

39 

12 

72 

39 

12 

303 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected  President  and  Hannibal 
Hamlin  as  Vice-President. 


120       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Thirty-seventh  Congress. 

Senate — 11    Democrats,     31    Republicans,     7    Americans, 

1  vacancy   Total,    50 

House — 42  Democrats,    10G    Republicans,    28   Americans, 

2  vacancies "      178 

Thirty -eighth  Congress. 

Senate — 12  Democrats,    39  Republicans Total,    51 

House — 80  Democrats,  103  Republicans "      183 


ELECTION  OF  1864.  121 


Election  of  1864 


Democratic  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  AUGUST  BELMONT,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  F.  0.  PRINCE,  of  Massachusetts. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  August  29,  1864. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  WILLIAM  BIGLER, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Chairman,  HORATIO  SEYMOUR, 

of  New  York. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  George  B.  McClellan, 

of  New  Jersey. 

For  Vice-President,  George  H.  Pendleton, 

of  Ohio. 

Twenty-three  states  participated  in  this  convention. 
Delaware,  Kentucky,  Maryland,  and  Missouri  were  the 
only  Southern  States  represented.  One  ballot  was  suffi- 
cient to  nominate  a  candidate  for  President,  George  B. 
McClellan  receiving  202i,  and  Horatio  Seymour,  28J  votes. 
McClellan's  nomination  was,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Vallan- 
digham,  of  Ohio,  made  unanimous. 

For  Vice-President,  George  H.  Pendleton  was  nominated 
on  the  second  ballot  by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  following 
is  the  result  of  the  first  ballot: 


122       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

JAMES  GUTHRIE, 

65 

DANIEL  W.  VOORHEES, 

13 

GEORGE  H.  PKNDLETON, 
of  Ohio  

55 

JOHN  D.  CATON, 
of  Illinois   

1(3 

LAZARUS  W.  POWELL, 

32 

AUGUSTUS  C.  DODGE, 

9 

GEORGE  vv.  CASS, 
of  Pennsylvania,  

26 

JOHN  S.  PHELPS, 

3 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past,  we  will  adhere 
with  unswerving  fidelity  to  the  Union  under  the  Constitution 
as  the  only  solid  foundation  of  our  strength,  security,  and 
happiness  as  a  people,  and  as  a  framework  of  government 
equally  conducive  to  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  all  the 
States,  both  Northern  and  Southern. 

Resolved,  That  this  convention  does  explicitly  declare,  as  the 
sense  of  the  American  people,  that  after  four  years  of  failure 
to  restore  the  Union  by  the  experiment  of  war,  during  which, 
under  the  pretense  of  a  military  necessity  or  war-power  higher 
than  the  Constitution,  the  Constitution  itself  has  been  disre- 
garded in  every  part,  and  public  liberty  and  private  right  alike 
trodden  down,  and  the  material  prosperity  of  the  country 
essentially  impaired — justice,  humanity,  liberty,  and  the  public 
welfare  demand  that  immediate  efforts  be  made  for  a  cessation 
of  hostilities,  with  a  view  to  the  ultimate  convention  of  the 
states,  or  other  peaceable  means,  to  the  end  that,  at  the  earliest 
practicable  moment,  peace  may  be  restored  on  the  basis  of  the 
federal  union  of  the  states. 

Resolved,  That  the  direct  interference  of  the  military  author- 
ities of  the  United  States  in  the  recent  elections  held  in  Ken- 
tucky, Maryland,  Missouri,  and  Delaware  was  a  shameful  viola- 
tion of  the  Constitution,  and  a  repetition  of  such  acts  in  the 
approaching  election  will  be  held  as  revolutionary,  and  resisted 
with  all  the  means  and  power  under  our  control. 

Resolved,  That  the  aim  and  object  of  the  Democratic  party  is 
to  preserve  the  federal  Union  and  the  rights  of  the  states  un- 
impaired, and  they  hereby  declare  that  they  consider  that  the 
administrative  usurpation  of  extraordinary  and  dangerous 
powers  not  granted  by  the  Constitution — the  subversion  of  the 
civil  by  military  law  in  states  not  in  insurrection;  the  arbi- 


ELECTION  OF  1864. 

trary  military  arrest,  imprisonment,  trial,  and  sentence  of 
American  citizens  in  states  where  civil  law  exists  in  full  force; 
the  suppression  of  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press;  the 
denial  of  the  right  of  asylum;  the  open  and  avowed  disregard 
of  state  rights;  the  employment  of  unusual  test-oaths;  and 
the  interference  with  and  denial  of  the  right  of  the  people  to 
bear  arms  in  their  defense — is  calculated  to  prevent  a  restora- 
tion of  the  Union  and  the  perpetuation  of  a  government  deriv-* 
ing  its  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed. 

Resolved,  That  the  shameful  disregard  of  the  administration 
to  its  duty  in  respect  to  our  fellow  citizens  who  now  are  and 
long  have  been  prisoners  of  war  and  in  a  suffering  condition, 
deserves  the  severest  reprobation  on  the  score  alike  of  public 
policy  and  common  humanity. 

Resolved,  That  the  sympathy  of  the  Democratic  party  is 
heartily  and  earnestly  extended  to  the  soldiers  of  our  army 
and  sailors  of  our  navy  who  are  and  have  been  in  the  field  and 
on  the  sea  under  the  flag  of  our  country,  and,  in  the  event  of 
its  attaining  power,  they  will  receive  all  the  care,  protection, 
and  regard  that  the  brave  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  republic 
have  so  nobly  earned. 


Republican  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  MARCUS  L.  WARD,  of  New  Jersey. 
Secretary,  JOHN  D.  DEFREES,  of  Indiana. 


(REGULAR)  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  June  7,  1864. 

Chairman  pro  tern., 

REV.  DR.  ROBERT  J.  BRECKINRIDGE, 

of  Kentucky. 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  DENNISON, 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Abraham  Lincoln, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Andrew  Johnson, 

of  Tennessee. 


NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Thirty-oue  states,  including  eight  Southern  States,  were 
represented  at  this  convention.  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
nominated  for  President,  by  a  unanimous  vote,  on  the  first 
ballot.  Missouri  voted  for  General  U.  S.  Grant,  but 
changed  to  Lincoln. 

For  Vice-President,  Andrew  Johnson,  of  Tennessee,  was 
nominated  on  the  first  ballot.  The  vote  as  first  cast  was 
Johnson,  200 ;  Hannibal  Hamlin,  of  Maine,  150;  Daniel  S. 
Dickinson,  of  New  York,  108;  and  61  votes  were  scattered 
among  seven  others;  but  before  the  vote  was  declared, 
many  changes  were  reported,  leaving  the  final  vote  stand : 
Johnson,  494;  Dickinson,  17;  and  Hamlin,  9. 

The  following  is  the  platform  as  adopted : — 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

1.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  highest  duty  of  every  American 
citizen  to  maintain  against  all  their  enemies,  the  integrity  of 
the  Union  and  the  paramount  authority  of  the  Constitution 
and  laws  of  the  United  States;  and  that,  laying  aside  all  differ- 
ences of  political  opinion,  we  pledge  ourselves  as  Union  men, 
animated  by  a  common  sentiment  and  aiming  at  a  common 
object,  to  do  everything  in  our  power  to  aid  the  government  in 
quelling  by  force  of  arms  the  rebellion  now  raging  against  its 
authority,   and  in  bringing  to  the  punishment  due  to   their 
crimes  the  rebels  and  traitors  arrayed  against  it. 

2.  Resolved,  That  we  approve  the  determination  of  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  not  to  compromise  with  rebels, 
or  to  offer  them  any  terms  of  peace  except  such  as  may  be 
based  upon  an  unconditional  surrender  of  their  hostility  and  a 
return  to  their  just  allegiance  to  the  Constitution  and  laws 
of  the  United  States;  and  that  we  call  upon  the  government 
to  maintain  this  position  and  to  prosecute  the  war  with  the 
utmost  possible  vigor,  to  the  complete  suppression  of  the  re- 
bellion, in  full  reliance  upon  the  self-sacrificing  patriotism, 
the  heroic  valor,  and  the  undying  devotion  of  the  American 
people  to  the  country  and  its  free  institutions. 

3.  Resolved,  That  as  slavery  was  the  cause  and  now  con- 
stitutes the  strength  of  this  rebellion,  and  as  it  must  be  always 
and  everywhere  hostile  to  the  principles  of  republican  govern- 
ment, justice  and  the  national  safety  demand  its  utter  and 


ELECTION  OF  1864:.  125 

complete  extirpation  from  the  soil  of  the  republic;  and  that 
while  we  uphold  and  maintain  the  acts  and  proclamations  by 
which  the  government,  in  its  own  defense,  has  aimed  a  death- 
blow at  this  gigantic  evil,  we  are  in  favor,  furthermore,  of 
such  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution,  to  be  made  by  the 
people  in  conformity  with  its  provisions,  as  shall  terminate 
and  forever  prohibit  the  existence  of  slavery  within  the  limits 
of  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  American  people  are  due 
to  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  army  and  navy  who  have 
periled  their  lives  in  defense  of  the  country  and  in  vindication 
of  the  honor  of  its  flag;  that  the  nation  owes  to  them  some 
permanent  recognition  of  their  patriotism  and  their  valor,  and 
ample  and  permanent  provision  for  those  of  their  survivors 
who  have  received   disabling  and   honorable   wounds  in   the 
service  of  the  country;  and  that  the  memories  of  those  who 
have  fallen  in  its  defense  shall  be  held  in  grateful  and  ever- 
lasting remembrance. 

5.  Resolved,  That  we  approve  and  applaud  the  practical  wis- 
dom, the  unselfish  patriotism,  and  the  unswerving  fidelity  to 
the  Constitution  and  the  principles  of  American  liberty  with 
which  Abraham  Lincoln  has  discharged,  under  circumstances 
of  unparalleled  difficulty,  the  great  duties  and  responsibilities 
of  the  presidential  office;  that  we  approve  and  indorse,  as  de- 
manded by  the  emergency  and  essential  to  the  preservation 
of  the  nation,  and  as  within  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution, 
the  measures  and  acts  which  he  has  adopted  to  defend  the 
nation   against   its   open   and   secret   foes;    that   we   approve 
especially  the  proclamation  of  emancipation  and  the  employ- 
ment as  Union  soldiers  of  men  heretofore  held  in  slavery;  and 
that  we  have  full  confidence  in  his  determination  to  carry 
these  and  all  other  constitutional  measures  essential  to  the 
salvation  of  the  country  into  full  and  complete  effect. 

6.  Itc-wln-d,  That  we  deem  it  essential  to  the  general  welfare 
that  harmony  should  prevail  in  the  national  councils,  and  we 
regard  as  worthy  of  public  confidence  and  official  trust  those 
only  who  cordially  indorse  the  principles  proclaimed  in  these 
resolutions,  and  which  should  characterize  the  administration 
of  the  government. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  government  owes  to  all  men  employed 
in  its  armies,  without  regard  to  distinction  of  color,  the  full 
protection  of  the  laws  of  war;  and  that  any  violation  of  these 
laws,  or  of  the  usages  of  civilized  nations  in  time  of  war,  by 
the  rebels  now  in  arms,  should  be  made  the  subject  of  prompt 
and  full  redress. 


126       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

8.  Resolved,  That  foreign  immigration,  which  in  the  past  has 
added  so  much  to  the  wealth,  development  of  resources,  and 
increase  of  power  to  the  nation — the  asylum  of  the  oppressed 
of  all  nations — should  be  fostered  and  encouraged  by  a  liberal 
and  just  policy. 

9.  Resolved,  That  we  are  in  favor  of  the  speedy  construction 
of  the  railroad  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

10.  Resolved,  That   the  national   faith,   pledged  for  the  re- 
demption of  the  public  debt,  must  be  kept  inviolate,  and  that 
for  this  purpose  we  recommend  economy  and  rigid  responsi- 
bility  in   the  public   expenditures,   and  a  vigorous   and  just 
system  of  taxation;  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  loyal  state 
to  sustain  the  credit  and  promote   the  use   of  the   national 
currency. 

11.  Resolved,   That  we  approve  the   position   taken  -by   the 
government,  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  can  never 
regard  with  indifference  the  attempt  of  any  European  power 
to  overthrow  by  force,  or  to  supplant  by  fraud,  the  institu- 
tions of  any  republican  government  on  the  western  continent; 
and  that  they  will  view  with  extreme  jealousy,  as  menacing 
to  the  peace  and  independence  of  their  own  country,  the  efforts 
of  any  such  power  to  obtain  new  footholds  for  monarchical 
governments,    sustained   by   foreign   military    force,    in   near 
proximity  to  the  United  States. 

(RADICAL)  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Cleveland,  O.,  May  31,  1864. 
Chairman,  JOHN  COCHRANE, 

of  New  York. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  John  C.  Fremont, 

of  California. 

For  Vice-President,  John  Coehrane, 

of  New  York. 

About  350  persons  attended  this  convention.  General 
John  C.  Fremont  was  nominated  hy  acclamation  for 
President,  and  General  John  Coehrane  for  Vice-President. 
On  September  21  both  candidates  withdrew,  and  the  party 
united  in  support  of  the  regular  Kepublican  nominees. 


ELECTION  OF  1864.  127 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

(RADICAL)  REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

1.  That  the  federal  Union  shall  be  preserved. 

2.  That  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States  must 
be  observed  and  obeyed. 

3.  That  the  rebellion  must  be  suppressed  by  force  of  arms 
and  without  compromise. 

4.  That   the  rights   of  free   speech,   free  press,   and   habeas 
corpus  be  held  inviolate,  save  in  districts  where  martial  law 
has  been  proclaimed. 

5.  That  the  rebellion  has  destroyed  slavery;  and  the  federal 
Constitution   should    be   so   amended   as   to   prohibit   its   re- 
establishment,  and  to  secure  to  all  men  absolute  equality  be- 
fore the  law. 

6.  That  integrity  and  economy  are  demanded  at  all  times  in 
the  administration  of  the  government,  and  that  in  time  of  war 
the  want  of  them  is  criminal. 

7.  That  the  right  of  asylum,  except  for  crime  and  subject  to 
law, is  a  recognized  principle  of  American  liberty;  and  that  any 
violation  of  it  cannot  be  overlooked  and  must  not  go  unrebuked. 

8.  That  the  national   policy  known  as   the  "  Monroe   Doc- 
trine"  has  become  a  recognized  principle;  and  that  the  estab- 
lishment of  any  anti-republican  government  on  this  continent 
by  any  foreign  power  cannot  be  tolerated. 

9.  That  the  gratitude  and  support  of  the  nation  are  due  to 
the  faithful  soldiers  and  the  earnest  leaders  of  the  Union  Army 
and  Navy  for  their  heroic  achievements  and  deathless  valor  in 
defense  of  our  imperilled  country  and  civil  liberty. 

10.  That  the  one-term  policy  for  the  Presidency  adopted  by 
the  people  is  strengthened  by  the  force  of  the  existing  crisis, 
and  should  be  maintained  by  Constitutional  amendment. 

11.  That  the  Constitution  should  be  so  amended  that  the 
President  and  Vice-President  shall  be  elected  by  a  direct  vote 
of  the  people. 

12.  That   the  question  of  the  reconstruction  of  the   rebel- 
lious states  belongs  to  the  people,  through  their  representa- 
tives in  Congress,  and  not  to  the  Executive. 

13.  That  the  confiscation  of  the  lands  of  the  rebels  and  their 
distribution  among  the  soldiers  and  actual  settlers  is  a  measure 
of  justice. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  8,  1864. 
TWENTY -FIVE  STATES  VOTED.    (War  period.) 


128       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


POPULAR  AND  ARMY  VOTES. 

The  popular  and  army  votes  are  placed  side  by  side,  as 
follows : 


STATES. 

POPULAR  VOTE. 

ARMY  VOTE.* 

Total 

vote. 

Abraham  Lincoln, 
Republican. 

George  B.  McClellan, 
Democrat. 

Abraham  Lincoln, 
Republican. 

George  B.  McClellan, 
Democrat. 

California  

62,134 
44,693 
8,155 
189,487 
150,422 
87,331 
14,228 
27,786 
72.278 
40,153 
126,742 
85,352 
25,060 
72,991 
9.826 
36,595 
60,723 
368,726 
265,154 
9,888 
296,389 
14,343 
42,422 
23,223 
79,564 

43,841 
42,288 
8,767 
158,349 
130,233 
49,260 
3,871 
64,301 
47,736 
32,739 
48,745 
67,370 
17,375 
31,026 
6,594 
33,O34 
68.014 
361,986 
205,568 
8,457 
276,308 
8,718 
13,325 
10.457 
63,875 

2,600 

15,i'78 

1,194 
4,174 
2,800 

9,402 

2,066 

41,146 
26,712 
243 
11,372 

237 

1,364 

2,823 
741 
321 

2,959 

69O 

9,757 
12,349 
'49 
2,458 

108,812 
86,981 
16,922 
347,836 
280,655 
153,133 
18,099 
96,1O4 
124,929 
76,013 
175,487 
165,083 
42,435 
104,017 
16,42O 
72,385 
128,737 
730,712 
521,625 
18,345 
611,758 
23,061 
56,O39 
33,680 
157,269 

Connecticut  

Delaware  

Illinois  

Jowa  

Kentucky  

Maryland  

Michigan  

Missouri  

Nevada  

New  Hampshire  

New  Jersey  

New  York  

Ohio  

Oregon  

Pennsylvania  

Vermont  

West  Virginia  

Total  

2,213,665 

1,802,237 

116,887 

33,748 

4,166,537 

*  Provision  had  been  made  by  some  of  the  states,  for  taking  the  vote  of 
the  soldiers  in  the  field.  The  army  votes  of  Kansas  and  Minnesota  arrived 
too  late  to  be  counted. 


ELECTION  OF  1864. 


129 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  8,  1865. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE- 
PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Abraham  Lincoln, 
of  Illinois. 

George  B.  McClellan, 
of  New  Jersey. 

Andrew  Johnson, 
of  Tennessee. 

George  H.  Pendleton, 
of  Ohio. 

California  

5 
6 

3 
11 

7 

5 
6 

16 
13 
8 
3 

7 
7 
12 
8 
4 
11 
2 
5 

33 
21 
3 
26 
4 
5 
5 
8 

3 
11 

7 

5 
6 
3 
16 
13 
8 
3 
11 
7 
7 
12 
8 
4 
11 
2 
5 
7 
33 
21 
3 
26 
4 
5 
5 
8 

Delaware  

Illinois  

16 
13 

8 
3 

Indians  

Iowa  

Kansas  

Kentucky  

Maine  

7 
7 
12 
8 
4 
11 
2 
5 

Maryland  

\|  innesota  

Nevada*  

33 
21 
3 
26 

4 
5 
5 
8 

Ohio  

Khode  Island  

West  Virginia  

Total  

212 

21 

212 

21 

233 

Abraham  Lincoln   was  elected  President  and  Andrew 
Johnson  as  Vice-President. 


•Nevada  chose  three  electors,  one  of  whom  died  before  the  election. 


130        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Thirty-ninth  Congress. 

Senate— 10  Democrats,    42  Republicans Total,    52 

House — 46  Democrats,  145  Republicans "      191 

Fortieth  Congress. 

Senate — 11  Democrats,    42  Republicans Total,    53 

House — 49  Democrats,  143  Republicans,  1  vacancy "       193 


ELECTION  OF  1868.  131 


Election  of  1868 


Democratic  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  AUGUST  BELMONT,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  F.  0.  PRINCE,  of  Massachusetts. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  4-11,  1868. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  M.  PALMER, 

of  Illinois. 

Chairman,  HORATIO  SEYMOUR, 

of  New  York. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Horatio  Seymour, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Francis  P.  Blair,  Jr., 

of  Missouri. 

This  convention  was  held  in  Tammany  Hall,  New  York, 
on  Fourteenth  street.  The  convention  convened  on  Satur- 
day, but  balloting  did  not  begin  until  Tuesday,  and  con- 
tinued unAil  Thursday.  After  twenty-one  unsuccessful 
ballots,  a  stampede  began  on  the  twenty-second  ballot, 
for  Horatio  Seymour,  the  chairman  of  the  convention,  and 
when  the  ballot  was  announced  it  was  found  to  be  a 
unanimous  vote.  The  following  summary  will  prove 
interesting : 


132       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

8th. 

16th. 

18th. 

21st. 

22d. 

GEORGE  H.  PENDLETON, 
of  Ohio  

105 

156^ 

107X 

56  % 

ANDREW  JOHNSON, 
of  Tennessee  

65 

6 

5.K 

10 

5 

WINFIELD  8.  HANCOCK, 
of  Pennsylvania  

33^ 

28 

113# 

144  % 

135  .>£ 

SANFORD  B.  CHURCH, 
of  New  York  

33 

ASA  PACKER, 
of  Pennsylvania  

26 

26 

JOEL  PARKER, 
of  New  Jersey  

13 

7 

7 

3% 

JAMES  E.  ENGLISH, 
of  Connecticut  

16 

6 

19 

JAMES  R.  DOOLITTLE, 
of  Wisconsin  

13 

12 

12 

12 

12% 

THOMAS  A.  HENDRICKS, 
of  Indiana-  .  .  

1\ 

75 

70X 

87 

132 

SALMON  P.  CHASE, 
of  Ohio  

# 

1A 

HORATIO  SEYMOUR, 
of  New  York  

317 

Whole  number  of  votes,  317. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,    212. 

For  Vice-President,  Francis  P.  Blair,  Jr.,  of  Missouri, 
was  nominated  unanimously  on  the  first  ballot. 
The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

The  Democratic  party,  in  national  convention  assembled, 
reposing  its  trust  in  the  intelligence,  patriotism,  and  discrimi- 
nating justice  of  the  people,  standing  upon  the  Constitution 
as  the  foundation  and  limitation  of  the  powers  of  the  govern- 
ment and  the  guarantee  of  the  liberties  of  the  citizen,  and 
recognizing  the  questions  of  slavery  and  secession  as  having 
been  settled  for  all  time  to  come  by  the  war  or  the  voluntary 
action  of  the  Southern  States  in  constitutional  conventions 
assembled,  and  never  to  be  renewed  or  reagitated, — do,  with 
the  return  of  peace,  demand — 

1.  Immediate  restoration  of  all  the  states  to  their  rights  in 
the  Union  under  the  Constitution,  and  of  civil  government  to 
the  American  people. 

2.  Amnesty  for  all  past  political  offenses,  and  the  regulation 
of  the  elective  franchise  in  the  states  by  their  citizens. 


ELECTION  OF  1868.  133 

3.  Payment  of  the  public  debt  of  the  United  States  as  rap- 
idly as  practicable:    all  moneys   drawn   from  the   people   by 
taxation,  except  so  much  as  is  requisite  for  the  necessities  of 
the   government,   economically   administered,    being   honestly 
applied  to  such  payment;   and  where  the  obligations  of  the 
government  do  not  expressly  state  upon   their   face,   or  the 
law  under  which  they  were  issued  does  not  provide  that  they 
shall  be  paid  in  coin,  they  ought,  in  right  and  in  justice,  to 
be  paid  in  the  lawful  money  of  the  United  States. 

4.  Equal  taxation  of  every  species  of  property  according  to 
its  real  value,  including  government  bonds  and  other  public 
securities. 

5.  One  currency  for   the   government  and   the   people,   the 
laborer  and  the  officeholder,  the  pensioner  and  the  soldier, 
the  producer  and  the  bondholder. 

6.  Economy  in  the  administration  of  the  government;   the 
reduction  of  the  standing  army  and  navy;  the  abolition  of  the 
Freedmen's  Bureau  and  all  political  instrumentalities  designed 
to  secure  negro  supremacy;  simplification  of  the  system,  and 
discontinuance  of  inquisitorial  modes  of  assessing  and  collect- 
ing internal  revenue,  so  that  the  burden  of  taxation  may  be 
equalized  and  lessened;  the  credit  of  the  government  and  the 
currency  made  good;  the  repeal  of  all  enactments  for  enrolling 
the  state  militia  into  national  forces  in  time  of  peace;  and  a 
tariff  for  revenue  upon  foreign  imports,  and  such  equal  taxa- 
tion under  the  Internal  Revenue  Laws  as  will  afford  incidental 
protection  to  domestic  manufactures,  and  as  will,  without  im- 
pairing the  revenue,  impose  the  least  burden  upon,  and  best 
promote  and  encourage,  the  great  industrial  interests  of  the 
country. 

7.  Reform  of  abuses  in  the  administration;  the  expulsion  of 
corrupt  men  from  office;  the  abrogation  of  useless  offices;  the 
restoration  of  rightful  authority  to,  and  the  independence  of, 
the  executive  and  judicial  departments  of  the  government;  the 
subordination  of  the  military  to  the  civil  power,  to  the  end 
that  the  usurpations  of  Congress  and  the  despotism  of  the 
sword  may  cease. 

8.  Equal  rights  and  protection  for  naturalized  and  native- 
born  citizens  at  home  and  abroad;  the  assertion  of  American 
nationality    which    shall    command    the    respect    of    foreign 
powers  and  furnish  an  example  and  encouragement  to  people 
struggling  for  national   integrity,  constitutional  liberty,   and 
individual  rights,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  rights  of  natural- 


134       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

ized  citizens  against  the  absolute  doctrine  of  immutable  alle- 
giance, and  the  claims  of  foreign  powers  to  punish  them  for 
alleged  crime  committed  beyond  their  jurisdiction. 

In  demanding  these  measures  and  reforms  we  arraign  the 
Radical  party  for  its  disregard  of  right  and  the  unparalleled 
oppression  and  tyranny  which  have  marked  its  career.  After 
the  most  solemn  and  unanimous  pledge  of  both  Houses  of 
Congress  to  prosecute  the  war  exclusively  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  government  and  the  preservation  of  the  Union  under 
the  Constitution,  it  has  repeatedly  violated  that  most  sacred 
pledge  under  which  alone  was  rallied  that  noble  volunteer 
army  which  carried  our  flag  to  victory.  Instead  of  restoring 
the  Union,  it  has,  so  far  as  in  its  power,  dissolved  it,  and  sub- 
jected ten  states,  in  time  of  profound  peace,  to  military  des- 
potism and  negro  supremacy.  It  has  nullified  there  the  right 
of  trial  by  jury;  it  has  abolished  the  habeas  corpus,  that  most 
sacred  writ  of  liberty;  it  has  overthrown  the  freedom  of 
speech  and  the  press;  it  has  substituted  arbitrary  seizures  and 
arrests,  and  military  trials  and  secret  star-chamber  inquisi- 
tions for  the  constitutional  tribunals;  it  has  disregarded,  in 
time  of  peace,  the  right  of  the  people  to  be  free  from  searches 
and  seizures;  it  has  entered  the  post  and  telegraph  offices, 
and  even  the  private  rooms  of  individuals,  and  seized  their 
private  papers  and  letters  without  any  specific  charge  or  notice 
of  affidavit,  as  required  by  the  organic  law;  it  has  converted 
the  American  Capitol  into  a  bastile;  it  has  established  a  sys- 
tem of  spies  and  official  espionage  to  which  no  constitutional 
monarchy  of  Europe  would  now  dare  to  resort;  it  has  abol- 
ished the  right  of  appeal,  on  important  Constitutional  ques- 
tions, to  the  supreme  judicial  tribunals,  and  threatens  to  cur- 
tail or  destroy  its  original  jurisdiction,  which  is  irrevocably 
vested  by  the  Constitution;  while  the  learned  chief  justice 
has  been  subjected  to  the  most  atrocious  calumnies,  merely 
because  he  would  not  prostitute  his  high  office  to  the  support 
of  the  false  and  partisan  charges  preferred  against  the  Preei- 
dent.  Its  corruption  and  extravagance  have  exceeded  any- 
thing known  in  history,  and,  by  its  frauds  and  monopolies  it 
has  nearly  doubled  the  burden  of  the  debt  created  by  the  war. 
It  has  stripped  the  President  of  his  Constitutional  power  of 
appointment,  even  of  his  own  Cabinet.  Under  its  repeated 
assaults  the  pillars  of  the  government  are  rocking  on  their 
base,  and  should  it  succeed  in  November  next,  and  inaugurate 
its  President,  we  will  meet,  as  a  subjected  and  conquered 


ELECTION  OF  1868.  135 

people,  amid  the  ruins  of  liberty  and  the  scattered  fragments 
of  the  Constitution. 

And  we  do  declare  and  resolve  that  ever  since  the  people  of 
the  United  States  threw  off  all  subjection  to  the  British  Crown 
the  privilege  and  trust  of  suffrage  have  belonged  to  the  several 
states,  and  have  been  granted,  regulated,  and  controlled  exclu- 
sively by  the  political  power  of  each  state  respectively,  and 
that  any  attempt  by  Congress,  on  any  pretext  whatever,  to 
deprive  any  state  of  this  right,  or  interfere  with  its  exercise, 
is  a  flagrant  usurpation  of  power  which  can  find  no  warrant 
in  the  Constitution,  and,  if  sanctioned  by  the  people,  will  sub- 
vert our  form  of  government,  and  can  only  end  in  a  single, 
centralized,  and  consolidated  government,  in  which  the  sepa- 
rate existence  of  the  states  will  be  entirely  absorbed,  and  an 
unqualified  despotism  be  established  in  place  of  a  federal  Union 
of  co-equal  states. 

And  that  we  regard  the  Reconstruction  Acts  (so-called),  of 
Congress,  as  such,  as  usurpations,  and  unconstitutional,  revo- 
lutionary, and  void.  That  our  soldiers  and  sailors,  who  car- 
ried the  flag  of  our  country  to  victory  against  a  most  gallant 
and  determined  foe,  must  ever  be  gratefully  remembered,  and 
ajl  the  guarantees  given  in  their  favor  must  be  faithfully 
carried  into  execution. 

That  the  public  lands  should  be  distributed  as  widely  as 
possible  among  the  people,  and  should  be  disposed  of  either 
under  the  Pre-emption  or  Homestead  Laws,  or  sold  in  reason- 
able quantities,  and  to  none  but  actual  occupants,  at  the 
minimum  price  established  by  the  government.  When  grants 
of  the  public  lands  may  be  allowed,  necessary  for  the  encour- 
agement of  important  public  improvements,  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  such  lands,  and  not  the  lands  themselves,  should 
be  so  applied. 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Andrew  Johnson, 
in  exercising  the  power  of  his  high  office  in  resisting  the 
aggressions  of  Congress  upon  the  Constitutional  rights  of  the 
states  and  the  people,  is  entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  the  whole 
American  people,  and  in  behalf  of  the  Democratic  party  we 
tender  him  our  thanks  for  his  patriotic  efforts  in  that  regard. 

Upon  this  platform  the  Democratic  party  appeal  to  every 
patriot,  including  all  the  conservative  element  and  all  who 
desire  to  support  the  Constitution  and  restore  the  Union,  for- 
getting all  past  differences  of  opinion,  to  unite  with  us  in  the 
present  great  struggle  for  the  liberties  of  the  people;  and  that 


136       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

to  all  such,  to  whatever  party  they  may  have  heretofore  be- 
longed, we  extend  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  hail  all 
such  co-operating  with  us  as  friends  and  brethren. 

Resolved,  That  this  convention  sympathize  cordially  with 
the  workingmen  of  the  United  States  in  their  efforts  to  protect 
the  rights  and  interests  of  the  laboring  classes  of  the  country. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  convention  are  tendered  to 
Chief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase  for  the  justice,  dignity,  and 
impartiality  with  which  he  presided  over  the  court  of  im- 
peachment on  the  trial  of  President  Andrew  Johnson. 

The  last  two  resolutions  were  offered  by  Mr.  Kernan,  of 
New  York,  after  the  nominations  and  immediately  before 
the  final  adjournment,  and  were  carried  by  acclamation. 


Republican  National  Committee-: 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  CLAFLIN,  of  Massachusetts. 
Secretary,  JOHN"  D.  DEFEEES,  of  Indiana. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  May  20-22,  1868. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  CARL  SCHURZ, 

of  Missouri. 

Chairman,  JOSEPH  R.  HAWLEY, 

of  Connecticut. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Sehuyler  Colfax, 

of  Indiana. 

This  convention  was  composed  of  650  delegates.  General 
Ulysses  S.  Grant,  of  Illinois,  was  unanimously  nominated 
on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  650  votes,  the  full  vote  of  the 
convention. 


ELECTION  OF  1868. 


137 


For  Vice-President,  five  ballots  had  been  taken,  when 
Schuyler  Colfax,  of  Indiana,  was  nominated.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  vote  in  detail : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

BENJAMIN  F.  WADE, 
of  Ohio  

147 

170 

178 

206 

38 

KEUBEN  B.  FENTON, 
of  New  York  

126 

111 

139 

144 

69 

HENRY  WILSON, 

119 

114 

101 

87 

SCHUYLBR  COLFAX, 

115 

145 

165 

186 

541 

ANDREW  G.  CURTIN, 

51 

45 

4O 

HANNIBAL  HAMLIN, 

28 

3O 

25 

25 

JAMES  SPEED, 

22 

JAMES  HARLAN, 
of  Iowa  

16 

JOHN  A.  J.  CRESWELL, 

14 

SAMUEL  C.  POMEROY, 

6 

WILLIAM  D.  KELLEY, 

4 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

KEPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  National  Republican  Party  of  the  United  States,  assem- 
bled in  national  convention  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  on  the 
21st  day  of  May,  1868,  make  the  following  declaration  of  prin- 
ciples:— 

1.  We  congratulate  the  country  on  the  assured  success  of 
the  reconstruction  policy  of  Congress,  as  evinced  by  the  adop- 
tion, in  the  majority  of  the  states  lately  in  rebellion,  of  Con- 
stitutions securing  equal  civil  and  political  rights  to  all;  and 
it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  to  sustain  those  institutions 
and  to  prevent  the  people  of  such  states  from  being  remitted 
to  a  state  of  anarchy. 

2.  The  guaranty  by  Congress  of  equal  suffrage  to  all  loyal 
men  at  the  South  was  demanded  by  every  consideration  of 
public  safety,  of  gratitude,  and  of  justice,  and  must  be  main- 
tained; while  the  question  of  suffrage  in  all  the  loyal  states 
properly  belongs  to  the  people  of  those  states. 

3.  We  denounce  all  forms  of  repudiation  as  a  national  crime; 
and  the  national  honor  requires  the  payment  of  the  public 


138       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

indebtedness  in  the  uttermost  good  faith  to  all  creditors  at 
home  and  abroad,  not  only  according  to  the  letter,  but  the 
spirit  of  the  laws  under  which  it  was  contracted. 

4.  It  is  due  to  the  labor  of  the  nation  that  taxation  should 
be  equalized,  and  reduced  as  rapidly  as  the  national  faith  will 
permit. 

5.  The  national  debt,  contracted  as  it  has  been  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  Union  for  all  time  to  come,  should  be  ex- 
tended over  a  fair  period  for  redemption;  and  it  is  the  duty  of 
Congress  to  reduce  the  rate  of  interest  thereon  whenever  it 
can  be  honestly  done. 

6.  That  the  best  policy  to  diminish  our  burden  of  debt  is  to 
so  improve  our  credit  that  capitalists  will  seek  to  loan  us 
money  at  lower  rates  of  interest  than  we  now  pay,  and  must 
continue  to  pay,  so  long  as  repudiation,  partial  or  total,  open 
or  covert,  is  threatened  or  suspected. 

7.  The  government  of  the  United  States  should  be  adminis- 
tered with  the  strictest  economy;  and  the  corruptions  which 
have  been  so  shamefully  nursed  and  fostered  by  Andrew  John- 
son call  loudly  for  radical  reform. 

8.  We  profoundly  deplore  the  untimely  and  tragic  death  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  regret  the  accession  to  the  Presidency 
of  Andrew  Johnson,  who  has  acted  treacherously  to  the  people 
who  elected  him  and  the  cause  he  was  pledged  to  support; 
who  has  usurped  high  legislative  and  judicial  functions;  who 
has  refused  to  execute  the  laws;  who  has  used  his  high  office 
to  induce  other  officers  to  ignore  and  violate  the  laws;   who 
has   employed   his   executive   powers   to   render   insecure   the 
property,  the  peace,  the  liberty  and  life  of  the  citizen;   who 
has   abused   the   pardoning   power;    who   has   denounced   the 
national  legislature  as  unconstitutional;  who  has  persistently 
and  corruptly  resisted,  by  every  means  in  his  power,  every 
proper  attempt  at  the  reconstruction  of  the  states  lately  in 
rebellion;    who  has  perverted   the  public  patronage  into  an 
engine  of  wholesale  corruption;  and  who  has  been  justly  im- 
peached for  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors,  and  properly  pro- 
nounced guilty  thereof  by  the  vote  of  thirty-five  senators. 

9.  The  doctrine  of  Great  Britain  and  other  European  powers, 
that  because  a  man  is  once  a  subject  he  is  always  so,  must 
be  resisted  at  every  hazard  by  the  United  States,  as  a  relic  of 
feudal  times,  not  authorized  by  the  laws  of  nations,  and  at 
war  with  our  national  honor  and  independence.     Naturalized 
citizens  are  entitled  to  protection  in  all  their  rights  of  citizen- 
ship as  though  they  were  native-born;  and  no  citizen  of  the 


ELECTION  OF  1868.  139 

United  States,  native  or  naturalized,  must  be  liable  to  arrest 
and  imprisonment  by  any  foreign  power  for  acts  done  or 
words  spoken  in  this  country;  and,  if  so  arrested  and  im- 
prisoned, it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  to  interfere  in  his 
behalf. 

10.  Of  all  who  were  faithful  in  the  trials  of  the  late  war 
there  were  none  entitled  to  more  especial  honor  than  the  brave 
soldiers  and  seamen  who  endured  the  hardships  of  campaign 
and  cruise,  and  imperilled  their  lives  in  the  service  of  the 
country;  the  bounties  and  pensions  provided  by  the  laws  for 
these  brave  defenders  of  the  nation  are  obligations  never  to 
be  forgotten;  the  widows  and  orphans  of  the  gallant  dead  are 
the  wards  of  the  people — a  sacred  legacy  bequeathed  to  the 
nation's  protecting  care. 

11.  Foreign  immigration,  which  in  the  past  has  added  so 
much  to  the  wealth,  development,  and  resources,  and  increase 
of  power  to  this  republic — the  asylum  of  the  oppressed  of  all 
nations — should  be  fostered  and  encouraged  by  a  liberal  and 
just  policy. 

12.  This   convention   declares   itself   in   sympathy   with   all 
oppressed  people  struggling  for  their  rights. 

13.  That  we  highly  commend  the  spirit  of  magnanimity  and 
forbearance  with  which  men  who  have  served  in  the  rebellion, 
but  who  now  frankly  and  honestly  co-operate  with  us  in  re- 
storing the  peace  of  the  country  and  reconstructing  the  South- 
ern State  governments  upon  the  basis  of  impartial  justice  and 
equal  rights,  are  received  back  into  the  communion  of  the 
loyal  people;  and  we  favor  the  removal  of  the  disqualifications 
and  restrictions  imposed  upon   the  late   rebels   in  the  same 
measure  as  the  spirit  of  disloyalty  will  die  out,  and  as  may 
be  consistent  with  the  safety  of  the  loyal  people. 

14.  That  we  recognize  the  great  principles  laid  down  in  the 
immortal  Declaration  of  Independence  as  the  true  foundation 
of  democratic  government;   and  we  hail  with  gladness  every 
effort   toward   making   these   principles   a    living   reality   on 
every  inch  of  American  soil. 

By  the  admission  of  Nebraska  the  whole  number  of 
states  became  thirty-seven ;  but  Mississippi,  Texas,  and 
Virginia,  under  an  act  of  Congress,  were  debarred  from 
choosing  electors. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  3,  1868. 

THIRTY- FOUR  STATES  VOTED. 


140       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
Republican. 

Horatio  Seymour, 
Democrat. 

Total  Vote. 

76  366 

72  08O  " 

148  452 

22  152 

19078 

41  '230 

54  592 

54  O78 

108  67O 

Connecticut  

5O641 

47  6(K) 

98241 

7  623 

1O98O 

18  603 

*Florida  

57  134 

102  822 

159  956 

Illinois  

25O  293 

199  143 

449  436 

176  552 

166  980 

343  532 

Iowa  

120,399 

74,O40 

194  439 

31  049 

14  019 

45  O68 

39  566 

115  889 

1  55  455 

33  263 

80  225 

113  488 

7O  426 

42  396 

112  822 

30438 

62  357 

92,795 

136  477 

59  408 

195  885 

Michigan  

128  550 

97,069 

225  619 

43  542 

28  072 

71  614 

85  671 

59  788 

145  459 

Nebraska  

9  729 

5  439 

15*168 

6  480 

5  218 

11  698 

New  Hampshire  

38,191 

31  224 

69415 

80  121 

83  001 

163  122 

New  York  

419  883 

429  883 

849,766 

96  226 

84  090 

180  316 

Ohio  

28O.128 

238,700 

518  828 

1O961 

11  125 

22  086 

Pennsylvania  

342,280 

313,382 

655,662 

Rhode  Island  

12993 

6  548 

19  541 

62  301 

45  237 

107  538 

Tennessee  

56  757 

26  311 

83  O68 

44  167 

12  045 

56  212 

29O25 

2O  3O6 

49  331 

Wisconsin  

108  857 

84,71O 

193  567 

Total  

3  012  833 

2  703  249 

5,716,082 

*  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 


ELECTION  OF  1868. 


141 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  10,  1869. 


STATES. 


PRESIDENT. 


VICE-PRESIDENT. 


00 

8s 


Alabama 8 

A  rkansas 5 

California 5 

Connecticut 6 

Delaware 

Florida 

*Georgia 

Illinois 16 

Indiana 13 

Iowa  

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 7 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 12 

Michigan 8 

Minnesota  

Missouri 11 

Nebraska 

N  evada 

New  Hampshire 5 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina 9 

Ohio 21 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 20 

Rhode  Island 4 

South  Carolina 6 

Tennessee 1O 

Vermont 5 

West  Virginia 6 

Wisconsin 

Total...  214 


11 

7 


7 
33 


16 

13 

8 

3 


12 
8 
4 

11 
3 
3 
5 


9 
21 

2O 
4 
6 

10 
5 
5 
8 


11 

7 


7 
33 


80 


214 


80 


•  Objections  were  made  to  counting  the  vote  of  Georgia,  on  the  ground 
that  the  vote  of  the  electors  was  not  given  on  the  flrst  Wednesday  in  De- 
cember ;  that  at  the  date  of  the  election  of  the  electors,  that  state  had  not 


142       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  elected  President  and  Schuyler 
Colfax  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Forty-first  Congress. 

Senate — 11  Democrats,    61  Republicans,  2  vacancies Total,    74 

House — 73  Democrats,  170  Republicans    "       243 

Forty-second  Congress. 

Senate —  17  Democrats,    57  Republicans Total,    74 

House — 104  Democrats,  139  Republicans "       243 


been  admitted  to  representation  as  a  state  in  Congress ;  that  the  state  has 
not  fulfilled,  in  due  form,  the  requirements  of  the  Eeconstruction  Acts,  so 
as  to  entitle  her  to  be  represented  as  a  state,  and  that  the  election  held  was 
not  a  free,  just  and  fair  election.  The  House  of  Representatives  sustained 
the  objections,  but  the  Senate  did  not.  The  president  of  the  Senate  an- 
nounced the  vote  in  a  similar  form  and  under  similar  circumstances  as 
was  announced  the  vote  of  1820. 


ELECTION  OF  1872.  143 


Election  of  1872 


Democratic  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  AUGUSTUS  Sen  ELL,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  F.  0.  PRINCE,  of  Massachusetts. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION, 

Baltimore,  Md.,  July  9,  1872. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  THOMAS  J.  RANDOLPH, 

of  Virginia. 

Chairman,  JAMES  R.  DOOT.ITTLE, 

of  Wisconsin. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Horace  Greeley, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  B.  Gratz  Brown, 

of  Missouri. 

The  first  work  of  the  convention  was  the  acceptance  01 
the  platform  adopted  by  the  Liberal  Eepublicans  at  Cin- 
cinnati, on  May  1,  1872,  in  the  following  resolution: — 

We,  the  Democratic  electors  of  the  United  States,  in  con- 
vention assembled,  do  present  the  following  principles,  al- 
ready adopted  at  Cincinnati,  as  essential  to  just  government: 

[See  Liberal  Republican  Platform  of  1872.] 

Horace  Greeley,  of  New  York,  was  then  nominated  on 
the  first  ballot  as  follows : 


144       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

HORACE  GREELEY, 
of  New  York  

686 

THOMAS  F.  BAYARD, 

16 

JEREMIAH  S.  BLACK, 
of  Pennsylvauia  

21 

WILLIAM  8.  GROESBECK, 
of  Ohio  

2 

Blank  ballots  ,  

7 

For  Vice-President,  B.  G-ratz  Brown,  of  Missouri,  was 
also  nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  as  follows: 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

B  GRATZ  BROWN, 

713 

JOHN  "W.  STEPHENSON, 

6 

13 

LIBERAL  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  May  1,  1872. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  STANLEY  MATTHEWS, 

of  Ohio. 


of  Missouri. 


Chairman,  CARL  SCHURZ, 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Horace  Greeley, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  B.  Gratz  Brown, 

of  Missouri. 

This  convention  assembled  as  a  mass- meeting,  no  regular 
delegates  having  been  chosen.  Organization  was  effected 
by  allowing  each  state  such  representation  as  would  equal 
two  delegates  or  votes  for  each  representative  and  senator 
in  Congress.  Six  ballots  were  taken  for  a  President,  with 
the  result  that  Horace  Greeley  was  nominated.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  vote  in  detail : 


ELECTION  OF  1872. 


145 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

6th. 

CHARLES  FRANCIS  ADAMS, 
of  Massachusetts  
HORACE  GREELEY, 
of  New  York  

203 

147 

243 

245 

264 

258 

279 
251 

258 
309 

187 
482 

LYMAN  THUMBULL, 
of  Illinois  

110 

148 

356 

141 

81 

19 

B.  GRATZ  BROWN, 
of  Missouri  

95 

2 

2 

2 

2 

DAVID  DAVIS, 
of  Illinois  

92  % 

75 

41 

51 

30 

6 

ANDREW  G.  CURTIN, 

62 

SALMON  P.  CHASE, 
of  Ohio  

1 

24 

32 

For  Vice-President,  B.  Gratz  Brown  was  nominated  on 
the  second  ballot,  as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

B.  GRATZ  BROWN, 
of  Missouri  

237 

435 

LYMAN  TRUMBULL, 
of  Illinois   

158 

175 

GEORGE  W.  JULIAN, 
of  Indiana    

134# 

GILBERT  C.  WALKER, 
of  Virginia  

84^ 

75 

CASSICS  M.  CLAY, 
of  Kentucky  

34 

JACOB  D.  Cox, 
of  Ohio  

25 

JOHN  M.  SCOVILLE, 

12 

THOMAS  W.  TIPTON, 

8 

3 

JOHN  M.  PALMER, 
of  Illinois  

8 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform  • 

LIBERAL  REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

We,  the  Liberal  Republicans  of  the  United  States,  in  national 
convention  assembled  at  Cincinnati,  proclaim  the  following 
principles  as  essential  to  just  government:  — 

1.  We  recognize  the  equality  of  all  men  before  the  law,  and 
hold  that  it  is  the  duty  of  government,  in  its  dealings  with  the 


146       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

people,  to  mete  out  equal  and  exact  justice  to  all,  of  whatever 
nativity,  race,  color,  or  persuasion,  religious  or  political. 

2.  We  pledge  ourselves  to  maintain  the  union  of  these  states, 
emancipation,   and   enfranchisement,   and   to   oppose  any  re- 
opening of  the  questions  settled  by  the  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth, 
and  Fifteenth  Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 

3.  We  demand  the  immediate  and  absolute  removal  of  all 
disabilities  imposed  on  account  of  the  rebellion,  which  was 
finally  subdued  seven  years  ago,  believing  that  universal  am- 
nesty will  result  in  complete  pacification  in  all  sections  of  the 
country. 

4.  Local  self-government,  with  impartial  suffrage,  will  guard 
the  rights  of  all  citizens  more  securely  than  any  centralized 
power.    The   public   welfare   requires   the   supremacy   of   the 
civil  over  the  military  authority,  and  freedom  of  persons  under 
the  protection  of  the  habeas  carpus.    We  demand  for  the  indi- 
vidual the  largest  liberty  consistent  with  public  order;  for  the 
state  self-government,   and  for   the   nation   a   return   to   the 
methods  of  peace  and  the  constitutional  limitations  of  power. 

5.  The  civil  service  of  the  government  has  become  a  mere 
instrument  of  partisan  tyranny  and  personal  ambition,  and  an 
object  of  selfish  greed.     It  is  a  scandal  and  reproach  upon  free 
institutions,   and   breeds   a  demoralization   dangerous   to  the 
perpetuity  of  republican  government.    We  therefore  regard  a 
thorough  reform  of  the  civil  service  as  one  of  the  most  press- 
ing necessities  of  the  hour;  that  honesty,  capacity,  and  fidelity 
constitute  the  only  valid  claim  to  public  employment;   that 
the  offices  of  the  government  cease  to  be  a  matter  of  arbitrary 
favoritism   and   patronage,    and   that   public    station   become 
again  a  post  of  honor.    To  this  end  it  is  imperatively  required 
that  no  President  shall  be  a  candidate  for  re-election. 

6.  We  demand  a  system  of  federal  taxation  which  shall  not 
unnecessarily  interfere  with  the  industry  of  the  people,  and 
which  shall  provide  the  means  necessary  to  pay  the  expenses 
of  the  government,  economically  administered,  the  pensions, 
the  interest  on  the  public   debt,   and   a  moderate   reduction 
annually  of  the  principal  thereof;   and  recognizing  that  there 
are  in  our  midst  honest  but  irreconcilable  differences  of  opin- 
ion with  regard  to  the  respective  systems  of  protection  and 
free  trade,  we  remit  the  discussion  of  the  subject  to  the  people 
in  their  congressional   districts,  and  to  the  decision  of   the 
Congress  thereon,  wholly  free  from  executive  interference  or 
dictation. 


ELECTION  OF  1872.  147 

7.  The  public  credit  must  be  sacredly  maintained,  and  we 
denounce  repudiation  in  every  form  and  guise. 

8.  A  speedy  return  to  specie  payment  is  demanded  alike  by 
the  highest  considerations  of  commercial  morality  and  honest 
government. 

9.  We  remember  with  gratitude  the  heroism  and  sacrifices  of 
the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  republic,  and  no  act  of  ours 
shall  ever  detract  from  their  justly  earned  fame  or  the  full 
reward  of  their  patriotism. 

10.  We  are  opposed  to  all  further  grants  of  lands  to  railroads 
or    other   corporations.    The   public   domain   should   be   held 
sacred  to  actual  settlers. 

11.  We  hold  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  in  its 
intercourse  with  foreign  nations,  to  cultivate  the  friendships 
of  peace  by  treating  with  all  on  fair  and  equal  terms,  regarding 
it  alike  dishonorable  either  to  demand  what  is  not  right  or  to 
submit  to  what  is  wrong. 

12.  For  the  promotion  and  success  of  these  vital  principles, 
and  the  support  of  the  candidates  nominated  by  this  conven- 
tion, we  invite  and  cordially  welcome  the  co-operation  of  all 
patriotic  citizens,  without  regard  to  previous  political  affilia- 
tions. 


(STRAIGHT-OUT)  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Louisville,  Ky.,  September  3,  1872. 
Chairman,  JAMES  LYON, 

of  Virginia. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Charles  O'Conor, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  John  Quincy  Adams, 

of  Massachusetts. 

The  convention  made  the  above-named  nominations. 
The  nominees  declined,  but  their  declinations  were  not 
accepted. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 


148       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

(STRAIGHT-OUT)  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

Whereas,  A  frequent  recurrence  to  first  principles  and  eternal 
vigilance  against  abuses  are  the  wisest  provisions  for  liberty, 
which  is  the  source  of  progress,  and  fidelity  to  our  constitu- 
tional system  is  the  only  protection  for  either;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  original  basis  of  our  whole  political  struc- 
ture is  consent  in  every  part  thereof.  The  people  of  each  state 
voluntarily  created  their  state,  and  the  states  voluntarily 
formed  the  Union;  and  each  state  provided  by  its  written 
constitution  for  everything  a  state  could  do  for  the  protection 
of  life,  liberty,  and  property  within  it;  and  each  state,  jointly 
with  the  others,  provided  a  federal  union  for  foreign  and  inter- 
state relations. 

Resolved,  That  all  governmental  powers,  whether  state  or 
federal,  are  trust  powers  coming  from  the  people  of  each 
state,  and  that  they  are  limited  to  the  written  letter  of  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws  passed  in  pursuance  of  it;  which 
powers  must  be  exercised  in  the  utmost  good  faith,  the  Con>. 
stitution  itself  stating  in  what  manner  they  may  be  altered 
and  amended. 

Resolved,  That  the  interests  of  labor  and  capital  should  not 
be  permitted  to  conflict,  but  should  be  harmonized  by  judicious 
legislation.  While  such  a  conflict  continues,  labor,  which  is 
the  parent  of  wealth,  is  entitled  to  paramount  consideration. 

Resolved,  That  we  proclaim  to  the  world  that  principle  is  to 
be  preferred  to  power;  that  the  Democratic  party  is  held  to- 
gether by  the  cohesion  of  time-honored  principles,  which  they 
will  never  surrender  in  exchange  for  all  the  offices  which 
Presidents  can  confer.  The  pangs  of  the  minorities  are  doubt* 
less  excruciating;  but  we  welcome  an  eternal  minority,  undei 
the  banner  inscribed  with  our  principles,  rather  than  an 
almighty  and  everlasting  majority  purchased  by  their  aban- 
donment. 

Resolved,  That,  having  been  betrayed  at  Baltimore  into  a 
false  creed  and  a  false  leadership  by  the  convention,  we  re- 
pudiate both,  and  appeal  to  the  people  to  approve  our  plat- 
form and  to  rally  to  the  fold  and  support  the  true  platform 
and  the  candidates  who  embody  it. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  opposed  to  giving  public  lands  to  cor- 
porations, and  favor  their  disposal  to  actual  settlers  only. 

Resolved,  That  we  favor  a  judicious  tariff  for  revenue  pur- 
poses only,  and  that  we  are  unalterably  opposed  to  class  legis- 
lation which  enriches  a  few  at  the  expense  of  the  many,  under 
the  plea  of  protection. 


ELECTION  OF  1872.  149 

Republican  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  EDWIN    D.  MOKGAN,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  WILLIAM  E.  CHANDLEH,  of  New  Hampshire. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  5-6,  1872. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  MORTON  McMiCHAEL, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Chairman,  THOMAS  SETTLE, 

of  North  Carolina. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Henry  Wilson, 

of  Massachusetts. 

The  renomination  of  General  Grant  was  conceded  before 
the  convention  reached  a  ballot,  and  he  was  nominated  by 
a  unanimous  vote. 

In  the  contest  for  Vice-President,  Henry  Wilson,  of 
Massachusetts,  received  364J  votes,  and  Schuyler  Colfax, 
of  Indiana,  321 J. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  Republican  party  of  the  United  States,  assembled  in 
national  convention  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  and 
6th  days  of  June,  1872,  again  declares  its  faith,  appeals  to  its 
history,  and  announces  its  position  upon  the  questions  before 
the  country. 

1.  During  eleven  years  of  supremacy  it  has  accepted  with 
grand  courage  the  solemn  duties  of  the  time.  It  suppressed  a 
gigantic  rebellion,  emancipated  four  millions  of  slaves,  decreed 
the  equal  citizenship  of  all,  and  established  universal  suffrage. 
Exhibiting  unparalleled  magnanimity,  it  criminally  punished 


150       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

no  man  for  political  offenses,  and  warmly  welcomed  all  who 
proved  loyalty  by  obeying  the  laws  and  dealing  justly  with 
their  neighbors.  It  has  steadily  decreased  with  firm  hand  the 
resultant  disorders  of  a  great  war  and  initiated  a  wise  and 
humane  policy  toward  the  Indians.  The  Pacific  Railroad  and 
similar  vast  enterprises  have  been  generously  aided  and  suc- 
cessfully conducted,  the  public  lands  freely  given  to  actual 
settlers,  immigration  protected  and  encouraged,  and  a  full 
acknowledgment  of  the  naturalized  citizens'  rights  secured 
from  European  powers.  A  uniform  national  currency  has  been 
provided,  repudiation  frowned  down,  the  national  credit  sus- 
tained under  the  most  extraordinary  burdens,  and  new  bonds 
negotiated  at  lower  rates.  The  revenues  have  been  carefully 
collected  and  honestly  applied.  Despite  annual  large  reduc- 
tions in  the  rates  of  taxation,  the  public  debt  has  been  reduced 
during  General  Grant's  Presidency  at  the  rate  of  a  hundred 
millions  a  year;  great  financial  crises  have  been  avoided,  and 
peace  and  plenty  prevail  throughout  the  land.  Menacing  for- 
eign difficulties  have  been  peacefully  and  honorably  composed, 
and  the  honor  and  power  of  the  nation  kept  in  high  respect 
throughout  the  world.  This  glorious  record  of  the  past  is  the 
party's  best  pledge  for  the  future.  We  believe  the  people  will 
not  intrust  the  government  to  any  party  or  combination  of 
men  composed  chiefly  of  those  who  have  resisted  every  step 
of  this  beneficent  progress. 

2.  The    recent    amendments    to    the    National    Constitution 
should    be   cordially    sustained    because   they   are   right,    not 
merely  tolerated  because  they  are  law,  and  should  be  carried 
out  according  to  their  spirit  by  appropriate   legislation,  the 
enforcement  of  which  can  safely  be  entrusted  only  to  the  party 
that  secured  those  amendments. 

3.  Complete  liberty  and  exact  equality  in  the  enjoyment  of 
all  civil,  political,  and  public  rights  should  be  established  and 
effectually  maintained  throughout  the  Union,  by  efficient  and 
appropriate   state   and   federal   legislation.    Neither   the   law 
nor   its   administration   should   admit   any   discrimination   in 
respect  of  citizens  by  reason  of  race,  creed,  color,  or  previous 
condition  of  servitude. 

4.  The  national  government  should  seek  to  maintain  honor- 
able peace  with  all  nations,  protecting  its  citizens  everywhere, 
and  sympathizing  with  all  people  who  strive  for  greater  liberty. 

5.  Any  system  of  the  civil  service  under  which  the  subordi- 
nate positions  of  the  government  are  considered  rewards  for 
mere  party  zeal  is  fatally  demoralizing,  and  we  therefore  favor 


ELECTION  OF  1872.  151 

a  reform  of  the  system  by  laws  which  shall  abolish  the  evils 
of  patronage  and  make  honesty,  efficiency,  and  fidelity  the 
essential  qualifications  for  public  positions,  without  practi- 
cally creating  a  life-tenure  of  office. 

6.  We  are  opposed  to  further  grants  of  the  public  lands  to 
corporations  and  monopolies,  and  demand  that  the  national 
domain  be  set  apart  for  free  homes  for  the  people. 

7.  The  annual  revenue,  after  paying  current  expenditures, 
pensions,  and  the  interest  on  the  public  debt,  should  furnish  a 
moderate  balance  for  the  reduction  of  the  principal,  and  that 
revenue,  except  so  much  as  may  be  derived  from  a  tax  on 
tobacco  and  liquors,  should  be  raised  by  duties  upon  importa- 
tions, the  details  of  which  should  be  so  adjusted  as  to  aid  in 
securing  remunerative  wages  to  labor,  and  promote  the  indus- 
tries, prosperity,  and  growth  of  the  whole  country. 

8.  We  hold  in  undying  honor  the  soldiers  and  sailors  whose 
valor  saved  the  Union.    Their  pensions  are  a  sacred  debt  of 
the  nation,  and  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  died  for 
their  country  are  entitled  to  the  care  of  a  generous  and  grate- 
ful people.    We  favor  such  additional  legislation  as  will  ex- 
tend the  bounty  of  the  government  to  all  our  soldiers  and 
sailors  who  were  honorably  discharged,  and  who  in  the  line 
of  duty  became  disabled,  without  regard  to  the  length  of  ser- 
vice or  the  cause  of  such  discharge. 

9.  The  doctrine  of  Great  Britain  and  other  European  powers 
concerning  allegiance — "  Once  a  subject  always  a  subject " — 
having  at  last,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Republican  party, 
been  abandoned,  and  the  American  idea  of  the  individual's 
right  to  transfer  allegiance  having  been  accepted  by  European 
nations,  it  is  the  duty  of  our  government  to  guard  with  jealous 
care  the  rights  of  adopted  citizens  against  the  assumption  of 
unauthorized   claims   by   their   former   governments,   and   we 
urge  continued  careful  encouragement  and  protection  of  volun- 
tary immigration. 

10.  The  franking  privilege  ought  to  be  abolished  and  the  way 
prepared  for  a  speedy  reduction  in  the  rates  of  postage. 

11.  Among  the  questions  which  press  for  attention  is  that 
which  concerns  the  relations  of  capital  and   labor,  and  the 
Republican  party  recognizes  the  duty  of  so  shaping  legislation 
as  to  secure  full  protection  and  the  amplest  field  for  capital, 
and  for  labor,  the  creator  of  capital,  the  largest  opportunities 
and  a  just  share  of  the  mutual  profits  of  these  two  great  ser- 
vants of  civilization. 


152       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

12.  We  hold  that  Congress  and  the  President  have  only  ful- 
filled an  imperative  duty  in  their  measures  for  the  suppression 
of  violent  and  treasonable  organizations  in  certain  lately  re- 
bellious regions,  and  for  the  protection  of  the  ballot-box;  and 
therefore  they  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  the  nation. 

13.  We  denounce  repudiation  of  the  public  debt,  in  any  form 
or  disguise,  as  a  national  crime.    We  witness  with  pride  the 
reduction  of  the  principal  of  the  debt,  and  of  the  rates  of 
interest  upon  the  balance,   and   confidently  expect  that   our 
excellent  national  currency  will  be  perfected  by  a  speedy  re- 
sumption of  specie  payment. 

14.  The  Republican  party  is  mindful  of  its  obligations  to  the 
loyal  women  of  America  for  their  noble  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  freedom.    Their  admission  to  wider  fields  of  usefulness  is 
viewed  with  satisfaction;  and  the  honest  demand  of  any  class 
of  citizens  for  additional  rights  should  be  treated  with  respect- 
ful consideration. 

15.  We  heartily  approve  the  action  of  Congress  in  extending 
amnesty  to  those  lately  in  rebellion,  and  rejoice  in  the  growth 
of  peace  and  fraternal  feeling  throughout  the  land. 

16.  The  Republican  party  proposes  to  respect  the  rights  re- 
served by  the  people  to  themselves  as  carefully  as  the  powers 
delegated  by  them  to  the  state  and  to  the  federal  government. 
It  disapproves  of  the  resort  to  unconstitutional  laws  for  the 
purpose  of  removing  evils,  by  interference  with  rights  not  sur- 
rendered by  the  people  to  either  the  state  or  national  govern- 
ment. 

17.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  general  government  to  adopt  such 
measures  as  may  tend  to  encourage  and  restore  American  com- 
merce and  ship-building. 

18.  We  believe  that  the  modest  patriotism,  the  earnest  pur- 
pose, the  sound  judgment,  the  practical  wisdom,  the  incorrup- 
tible integrity,  and  the  illustrious  services  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
have  commended  him  to  the  heart  of  the  American  people, 
and  with  him  at  our  head  we  start  to-day  upon  a  new  march 
to  victory. 

19.  Henry  Wilson,  nominated  for  the  Vice-Presidency,  known 
to  the  whole  land  from  the  early  days  of  the  great  struggle  for 
liberty  as  an  indefatigable  laborer  in  all  campaigns,  an  incor- 
ruptible legislator,  and  representative  man  of  American  insti- 
tutions, is  worthy  to  associate  with  our  great  leader  and  share 
the  honors  which  we  pledge  our  best  efforts  to  bestow  upon 
them. 


ELECTION  OF  1872. 


153 


LABOR  REFORM  CONVENTION. 

Columbus,  O.,  February  21-22,  1872. 
Chairman,  EDWIN  M.  CHAMBERLIN, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED — 


For  President,  David  Davis, 


of  Illinois. 


For  Vice-President,  Joel  Parker, 

of  New  Jersey. 

This  convention  was  made  up  of  representatives  of  the 
trades  unions  and  of  dissatisfied  members  of  the  old  par- 
ties. Seventeen  states  were  represented.  The  convention 
remained  in  session  for  two  days.  The  following  is  the 
ballot  by  which  David  Davis  was  nominated  for  President: 


CANDIDATES. 

Informal. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

JOHN  W.  GEARY, 

60 

HORACE  H.  DAY, 

59 

21 

59 

3 

DAVID  DAVIS, 
of  Illinois  

47 

88 

93 

201 

WENDELL  PHILLIPS, 
of  Massachusetts  

13 

12 

J.  M.  PALMER, 
of  Illinois  

8 

JOEL,  PARKER, 
of  New  Jersey  

7 

7 

7 

GEOKOE  W.  JULIAN, 

6 

5 

B.  GRATX  HKOWN, 

14 

HORACE  OHEELEY, 
of  New  York  

11 

For  Vice-President,  Joel  Parker  was  nominated  on  the 
second  ballot,  as  follows : 


15-i        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

E.  M.  CHAMBERLIN, 

72 

57 

JOEL  PARKER, 

70 

112 

ALANSON  M.  WEST, 

18 

THOMAS  EWING, 
of  Ohio  

31 

22 

W.  G.  BRYAN, 

10 

Both  candidates  having  declined,  the  convention  was 
called  together  again,  but  only  a  small  number  of  the 
delegates  attended.  Charles  O'Conor,  of  New  York,  was 
then  nominated  for  President,  but  no  nomination  was  made 
for  Vice-President. 

The  first  convention  had  adopted  the  following  plat- 
form : — 

LABOR  REFORM  PLATFORM. 

We  hold  that  all  political  power  is  inherent  in  the  people, 
and  free  government  is  founded  on  their  authority  and  estab- 
lished for  their  benefit;  that  all  citizens  are  equal  in  political 
rights,  entitled  to  the  largest  religious  and  political  liberty 
compatible  with  the  good  order  of  society,  as  also  the  use  and 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  their  labor  and  talents;  and  no  man 
or  set  of  men  is  entitled  to  exclusive  separable  endowments 
and  privileges,  or  immunities  from  the  government,  but  in 
consideration  of  public  services;  and  any  laws  destructive  of 
these  fundamental  principles  are  without  moral  binding  force, 
and  should  be  repealed.  And  believing  that  all  the  evils  re- 
sulting from  unjust  legislation  now  affecting  the  industrial 
classes  can  be  removed  by  the  adoption  of  the  principles  con- 
tained in  the  following  declaration,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  to  establish 
a  just  standard  of  distribution  of  capital  and  labor  by  provid- 
ing a  purely  national  circulating  medium,  based  on  the  faith 
and  resources  of  the  nation,  issued  directly  to  the  people  with- 
out the  intervention  of  any  system  of  banking  corporations, 
which  money  shall  be  legal  tender  in  the  payment  of  all  debts, 
public  and  private,  and  interchangeable  at  the  option  of  the 


ELECTION  OF  1872.  155 

holder  for  government  bonds  bearing  a  rate  of  interest  not  to 
exceed  3.65  per  cent,  subject  to  future  legislation  by  Congress. 

2.  That   the   national   debt  should   be   paid   in   good   faith, 
according  to  the  original  contract,  at  the  earliest  option  of 
the  government,  without  mortgaging  the  property  of  the  people 
or  the  future  earnings  of  labor,  to  enrich  a  few  capitalists  at 
home  and  abroad. 

3.  That  justice   demands  that  the  burdens  of  government 
should  be  so  adjusted  as  to  bear  equally  on  all  classes,  and 
that  the  exemption  from  taxation  of  government  bonds  bear- 
ing extravagant  rates  of  interest  is  a  violation  of  all  just 
principles  of  revenue  laws. 

4.  That  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States  belong  to  the 
people,  and  should  not  be  sold  to  individuals  nor  granted  to 
corporations,  but  should  be  held  as   a   sacred  trust   for  the 
benefit  of  the  people,  and  should  be  granted  to  landless  settlers 
only,  in  amounts  not  exceeding  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land. 

5.  That  Congress  should  modify  the  tariff  so  as  to  admit  free 
such  articles  of  common  use  as  we  can  neither  produce  nor 
grow,  and  lay  duties  for  revenue  mainly  upon  articles  of  luxury 
and  upon  such  articles  of  manufacture  as  will,  we  having  the 
raw  materials,  assist  in  further  developing  the  resources  of 
the  country. 

6.  That  the  presence  in  our  country  of  Chinese  labor,  im- 
ported by  capitalists  in  large  numbers,  for  servile  use,  is  an 
evil,  entailing  want  and  its  attendant  train  of  misery  and  crime 
on  all  classes  of  the  American  people,  and  should  be  prohibited 
by  legislation. 

7.  That  we  ask  for  the  enactment  of  a  law  by  which  all 
mechanics  and  day  laborers  employed  by  or  on  behalf  of  the 
government,  whether  directly  or  indirectly,  through  persons, 
firms,  or  corporations  contracting  with  the  state,  shall  conform 
to  the  reduced  standard  of  eight  hours  a  day,  recently  adopted 
by  Congress  for  national  employees,  and  also  for  an  amend- 
ment to  the  acts  of  incorporation  for  cities  and  towns  by  which 
all  laborers  and  mechanics  employed  at  their  expense  shall 
conform  to  the  same  number  of  hours. 

8.  That  the  enlightened  spirit  of  the  age  demands  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  system  of  contract  labor  in  our  prisons  and  other 
reformatory  institutions. 

9.  That  the  protection  of  life,  liberty,  and  property  are  the 
three  casual  principles  of  government,  and  the  first  two  are 


156        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

more  sacred  than  the  latter;  therefore  money  needed  for  prose- 
cuting wars  should,  as  it  is  required,  be  assessed  and  collected 
from  the  wealth  of  the  country,  and  not  entailed  as  a  burden 
on  posterity. 

10.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  to  exercise  its 
power  over   railroads  and  telegraph   corporations,   that  they 
shall  not  in  any  case  be  privileged  to  exact  such  rates   of 
freight,  transportation,  or  charges,  by  whatever  name,  as  may 
bear  unduly  or  unequally  upon  the  producer  or  consumer. 

11.  That  there  should  be  such  a  reform  in  the  civil  service 
of  the  national  government  as  will  remove  it  beyond  all  parti- 
san influence,  and  place  it  in  the  charge  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  intelligent  and  competent  business  men. 

12.  That  as  both  history  and  experience  teach  us  that  power 
ever  seeks  to  perpetuate  itself  by  every  and  all  means,  and 
that  its  prolonged  possession  in  the  hands  of  one  person  is 
always  dangerous  to  the  interests  of  a  free  people,  and  believ- 
ing that  the  spirit  of  our  organic  laws  and  the  stability  and 
safety  of  our  free  institutions  are  best  obeyed  on  the  one  hand, 
and  secured  on  the  other,  by  a  regular  constitutional  change 
in  the  chief  of  the  country  at  each  election;  therefore,  we  are 
in  favor  of  limiting  the  occupancy  of  the  presidential  chair  to 
one  term. 

13.  That  we  are  in  favor  of  granting  general  amnesty  and 
restoring  the  Union  at  once  on  the  basis  of  the  equality  of 
rights  and  privileges  to  all,  the  impartial  administration  of 
justice  being  the  only  true  bond  of  union  to  bind  the  states 
together  and  restore  the  government  of  the  people. 

14.  That  we  demand  the  subjection  of  the  military  to  the 
civil   authorities,   and   the   confinement   of   its   operations   to 
national  purposes  alone. 

15.  That  we  deem  it  expedient  for  Congress  to  supervise  the 
patent  laws,  so  as  to  give  labor  more  fully  the  benefit  of  its 
own  ideas  and  inventions. 

16.  That  fitness,  and  not  political  or  personal  considerations, 
should   be  the  only   recommendation   to  public  office,   either 
appointive  or  elective,  and  any  and  all  laws  looking  to  the 
establishment  of  this  principle  are  heartily  approved. 


ELECTION  OF  18T2.  157 

PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Columbus,  O.,  February  22,  1872. 
Chairman,  SAMUEL  CHASE, 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  James  Black, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

For  Vice-President,  Rev.  John  Russell, 

of  Michigan. 

Nine  states,  with  194  delegates,  were  represented  at  this 
convention.  The  above-mentioned  candidates  were  pre- 
sented to  the  convention  by  a  committee,  and  were 
nominated  by  acclamation. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

The  preamble  recites  that  protection  and  allegiance  are 
reciprocal  duties;  and  every  citizen  who  yields  obediently  to 
the  full  commands  of  government  should  be  protected  in  all 
the  enjoyment  of  personal  security,  personal  liberty,  and 
private  property.  That  the  traffic  in  intoxicating  drinks 
greatly  impairs  the  personal  security  and  personal  liberty  of 
a  great  mass  of  citizens,  and  renders  private  property  insecure. 
That  all  political  parties  are  hopelessly  unwilling  to  adopt  an 
adequate  policy  on  this  question. 

Therefore,  as  a  national  convention,  we  adopt  the  following 
declaration  of  principles: 

That  while  we  acknowledge  the  patriotism  and  profound 
statesmanship  of  those  patriots  who  laid  the  foundation  of  this 
government,  securing  at  once  the  rights  of  the  states  severally 
and  their  inseparable  union  by  the  federal  Constitution,  we 
would  not  merely  garnish  the  sepulchres  of  our  republican 
fathers,  but  we  do  hereby  renew  our  pledges  of  solemn  fealty 
to  the  imperishable  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty 
embodied  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  our  federal 
Constitution. 

That  the  traffic  in  intoxicating  beverages  is  a  dishonor  to 
Christian  civilization,  a  political  wrong  of  unequalled  enor- 


158       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

mity,  subversive  of  ordinary  objects  of  government,  not  capa- 
ble of  being  regulated  or  restrained  by  any  system  of  license 
whatever,  and  imperatively  demands,  for  its  suppression,  effec- 
tive legal  prohibition,  both  by  state  and  national  legislation. 

That  there  can  be  no  greater  peril  to  a  nation  than  the  ex- 
isting party  competition  for  the  liquor  vote;  that  experience 
shows  that  any  party  not  opposed  to  the  traffic,  that  will 
engage  in  this  competition,  will  court  the  favor  of  the  criminal 
classes,  will  barter  away  the  public  morals,  the  purity  of  the 
ballot,  and  every  object  of  the  government,  for  party  success. 

That,  as  Prohibitionists,  we  will  individually  use  all  efforts 
to  persuade  men  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors;  and  we 
invite  all  persons  to  assist  in  this  movement. 

That  competence,  honesty,  and  sobriety  are  indispensable 
qualifications  for  holding  office. 

That  removals  from  public  office  for  mere  political  differ- 
ences of  opinion  are  wrong. 

That  fixed  and  moderate  salaries  of  public  officers  should 
take  the  places  of  fees  and  perquisites;  and  that  all  means 
should  be  taken  to  prevent  corruption  and  encourage  economy. 

That  the  President  and  Vice-President  should  be  elected 
directly  by  the  people. 

That  we  are  in  favor  of  a  sound  national  currency,  adequate 
to  the  demands  of  business  and  convertible  into  gold  and  silver 
at  the  will  of  the  holder,  and  the  adoption  of  every  measure 
compatible  with  justice  and  public  safety  to  appreciate  our 
present  currency  to  the  gold  standard. 

That  the  rates  of  ocean  and  inland  postage,  and  railroad 
telegraph  lines  and  water  transportation,  should  be  made  as 
low  as  possible  by  law. 

That  we  are  opposed  to  all  discrimination  in  favor  of  capital 
against  labor,  as  well  as  all  monopoly  and  class  legislation. 

That  the  removal  of  the  burdens  imposed  in  the  traffic  in 
intoxicating  drinks  will  emancipate  labor,  and  will  practically 
promote  labor  reform. 

That  suffrage  should  be  granted  to  all  persons,  without  re- 
gard to  sex. 

That  the  fostering  and  extension  of  common  schools  is  a 
primary  duty  of  the  government. 

That  a  liberal  policy  should  be  pursued  to  promote  foreign 
emigration. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  5,  1872. 
THIRTY-SEVEN;  STATES  VOTED. 


ELECTION  OF  1872. 


159 


POPTJLAB    VOTE. 


STATES. 

-P" 

O  § 
oa3 

xi 

8a 

5  <D 

an 

U> 

Horace  Greeley, 
Democrat  and  Lib- 
eral Republican. 

Charles  O'Conor, 
Democrat. 

Total 
vote. 

90,272 

79,444 

169,716 

41,373 

37,927 

79,30O 

54,O2O 

4O,718 

1,O68 

95,8O6 

50,638 

45,88O 

904 

96,928 

Delaware  

11,115 

1O,206 

487 

21,808 

Florida  

17,763 

15,427 

33,190 

6-2,550 

76,356 

4,OOO 

142,906 

Illinois  

241,944 

184,938 

3,058 

429,940 

186,147 

163,032 

1,417 

351,196 

131,566 

71,196 

2,221 

204,983 

67,O48 

32,970 

596 

100,614 

88,766 

99,995 

2,374 

191,136 

71,663 

57,O29 

128,692 

61,422 

29,087 

90,509 

66,760 

67,687 

19 

134,466 

133,472 

59,260 

192,732 

138,455 

78,355 

2,861 

220,942 

55,117 

34,423 

89,54O 

82,175 

47,288 

129,463 

119,196 

151,434 

2,429 

273,059 

18,329 

7,812 

26,141 

8,413 

6,236 

II  <>!!» 

37,168 

31,424 

100 

68,892 

91,656 

76,456 

630 

168,742 

440,736 

387,281 

1,464 

829,672 

North  Carolina  

94,769 

7O,O94 

164,863 

Ohio    

281,852 

2-H.321 

1,163 

529,436 

11,819 

7,730 

572 

20,121 

349,589 

212,041 

563,260 

Khode  Island  

13,665 

5,329 

18,994 

72,290 

22,703 

187 

95,18O 

85,655 

94,891 

180,046 

47,4O6 

(»i..-,(M> 

2,499 

136,405 

41,481 

1O,927 

693 

53,OO1 

Virginia  

!»::,  i<;s 

91,664 

42 

i  s;>  1  1  ;  I 

West  Virginia 

:\-2,:\\r, 

29,451 

6OO 

<;•->  :;<;<; 

104,997 

86,477 

834 

192,308 

Total  

3,597,O7O 

2,834,079 

29,4O8 

6,460,165 

James  Black  (Prohibitionist)  received  5608  votes,  which 
is  included  in  total  vote  given  above. 


160       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  12,  1873. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

j1 

is  r^ 

BI 

11 

5 

M 

fj 

3  « 

"i.i 

i~ 

=  1 
ts 

•3  <~ 

I 

a 
Si 

r  ° 

=  £ 
—  ~ 

1 
8 

.1 

II 

t* 

a" 
-  'IZ 

si 
Is 

"5 

^  1 

'5 

cr 
§  J 

»s 

~° 

1 
£'1 

S  = 
e" 

| 
5  >. 

a  o 

ii  3 
l« 

rf 
| 

A 
| 

5 

!K  c- 

|1 

==  -^' 

=sl 
*« 

,'i  l_. 

^  I 

-1 

ia 

I 
I 

£ 

1 

f 

1 
I 

1 

10 
6 
6 
6 
3 
4 
11 
21 
15 
11 
5 
12 
8 
7 
8 
13 
11 
5 
8 
15 
3 
3 
5 
9 
35 
1O 

*3 
29 
4 
7 
12 
8 
5 
11 
5 
10 

I 

a 

s 

a 

fc 

a 

« 

^ 

5 

5 

H 

* 

* 

1 

Alabama  

10 

10 

Oi 

0 

California  

0 

6 

<; 

6 

Delaware  

a 

S 

4 

4 

*Georgia  

si 

G 

2 

a 

2J 

5 

5 

1 

i  -, 

15 

i  1 

11 

r. 

5 

8 

4 

8 

S 

1 

s 

8 

Maine  

7 

7 

g 

s 

Massachusetts. 

is 

1  1 

1? 

11 

Q 

5 

g 

g 

Missouri  

(> 

8 

1 

3 

6 

5 

:-, 

1 

3 

9 

3 

N.  Hampshire. 
New  Jersey  .  .  . 

r, 
<> 

5 

q 

New  York  

i") 

TS 

North  Carolina 
Ohio  ;  . 

10 
23 

1O 

'>.> 

•^ 

9 

Pennsylvania  . 
Rhode  Island  . 
South  Carolina 

29 

4 

7 

oq 

/I 

7 

1° 

l'> 

Texas  

s 

S 

5 

5 

Virginia  

11 

11 

West  Virginia. 

5 

lo 

5 

10 

Total  

286 

42 

18 

2 

1 

17 

280 

47 

B 

r> 

8 

3 

1 

1 

1 

14 

366 

*  Objections  were  made  to  counting  the  votes  of  Arkansas  and  Louisiana, 
as  also  to  the  three  votes  cast  by  the  Georgia  electors  for  Horace  Greeley, 
and  Congress  excluded  them  from  the  count. 


ELECTION  OF  1872.  161 

NOTE. — Horace  Greeley  died  November  29, 1872,  and  the 
Democratic  and  Liberal  electors  were  compelled,  on  their 
day  of  voting,  December  4th,  to  vote  for  other  persons. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  elected  President  and  Henry  Wil- 
son as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Forty-third  Congress. 

Senate — 19  Democrats,    54  Republicans,  1  vacancy    Total,    74 

House — 88  Democrats,  203  Republicans,  1  vacancy    "       292 

Forty-fourth  Congress. 

Senate —  29  Democrats,    46  Republicans,  1  vacancy Total,    76 

House — 181  Democrats,  107  Republicans,  3   Independents, 

2  vacancies..  "      298 


162       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1876 


Democratic  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  ABEAM  S.  HEWITT,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  F.  0.  PRINCE,  of  Massachusetts. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  27-29,  1876. 
Chairman  pro  tern. ,  HENRY  WATTBRSON, 

of  Kentucky. 

Chairman,  JOHN  A.  MCCLERNAND, 

of  Illinois. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Samuel  J.  Tilden, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 

of  Indiana. 

The  convention  was  divided  on  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Eesolutions,  a  minority  report  favoring  a  modifi- 
cation of  the  clause  relating  to  "  Specie  resumption."  The 
minority  amendment  was  rejected  by  a  vote  of  219  to  550, 
and  the  platform  was  agreed  to  as  reported,  by  a  vote  of 
651  to  83.  The  platform  is  given  below. 

Two  ballots  were  necessary  to  nominate  Samuel  J.  Tilden, 
of  New  York,  for  President.  The  ballots  resulted  as 
follows : 


ELECTION  OF  1876. 


163 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

SAMUEL  J.  TILDEN, 
of  New  York  

417 

535 

THOMAS  A.  HENDRICKS, 
of  INDIANA  

140 

6O 

WINFIELD  S.  HANCOCK, 
of  Pennsylvania  

75 

59 

WILLIAM  ALLEN, 
of  Ohio  

56 

54 

THOMAS  P.  BAYARD, 
of  Delaware  

33 

11 

JOEL  PARKER, 
of  New  Jersey  

18 

18 

ALLEN  G.  THURMAN, 
of  Ohio  

Whole  number  of  votes,  744. 
Necessary  to  a  choice,     496. 

For  Vice-President,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks,  of  Indiana, 
was  nominated  by  a  unanimous  vote,  on  the  first  ballot. 
The  following  is  the  platform  as  adopted: — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

We,  the  delegates  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the  United 
States,  in  national  convention  assembled,  do  hereby  declare 
the  administration  of  the  federal  government  to  be  in  urgent 
need  of  immediate  reform;  do  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  nomi- 
nees of  this  convention,  and  of  the  Democratic  party  in  each 
state,  a  zealous  effort  and  co-operation  to  this  end;  and  do 
hereby  appeal  to  our  fellow-citizens  of  every  former  political 
connection  to  undertake  with  us  this  first  and  most  pressing 
patriotic  duty. 

For  the  Democracy  of  the  whole  country  we  do  here  reaffirm 
our  faith  in  the  permanence  of  the  federal  Union,  our  devotion 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  with  its  amendments 
universally  accepted  as  a  final  settlement  of  the  controversies 
that  engendered  civil  war,  and  do  here  record  our  steadfast 
confidence  in  the  perpetuity  of  republican  self-government. 

In  absolute  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  the  majority,  the 
vital  principle  of  republics;  in  the  supremacy  of  the  civil  over 
the  military  authority;  in  the  total  separation  of  church  and 
state,  for  the  sake  alike  of  civil  and  religious  freedom;  in  the 
equality  of  all  citizens  before  just  laws  of  their  own  enact- 
ment; In  the  liberty  of  individual  conduct,  unvexed  by  sump- 


164        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

tuary  laws;  in  the  faithful  education  of  the  rising  generation, 
that  they  may  preserve,  enjoy,  and  transmit  these  best  condi- 
tions of  human  happiness  and  hope, — we  behold  the  noblest 
products  of  a  hundred  years  of  changeful  history;  but  while 
upholding  the  bond  of  our  Union  and  great  charter  of  these 
our  rights,  it  behooves  a  free  people  to  practice  also  that 
eternal  vigilance  which  is  the  price  of  liberty. 

Reform  is  necessary  to  rebuild  and  establish  in  the  hearts  of 
the  whole  people  the  Union  eleven  years  ago  happily  rescued 
from  the  danger  of  a  secession  of  states,  but  now  to  be  saved 
from  a  corrupt  centralism  which,  after  inflicting  upon  ten 
states  the  rapacity  of  carpet-bag  tyrannies,  has  honeycombed 
the  offices  of  the  federal  government  itself  with  incapacity, 
waste,  and  fraud;  infected  states  and  municipalities  with  the 
contagion  of  misrule,  and  locked  fast  the  prosperity  of  an 
industrious  people  in  the  paralysis  of  "  hard  times." 

Reform  is  necessary  to  establish  a  sound  currency,  restore 
the  public  credit,  and  maintain  the  national  honor. 

We  denounce  the  failure,  for  all  these  eleven  years  of  peace, 
to  make  good  the  promise  of  the  legal-tender  notes,  which  are 
a  changing  standard  of  value  in  the  hands  of  the  people,  and 
the  non-payment  of  which  is  a  disregard  of  the  plighted  faith 
of  the  nation. 

We  denounce  the  improvidence  which,  in  eleven  years  of 
peace,  has  taken  from  the  people  in  federal  taxes  thirteen  times 
the  whole  amount  of  the  legal-tender  notes,  and  squandered 
four  times  their  sum  in  useless  expense,  without  accumulating 
any  reserve  for  their  redemption. 

We  denounce  the  financial  imbecility  and  immorality  of  that 
party  which,  during  eleven  years  of  peace,  has  made  no  ad- 
vance toward  resumption,  no  preparation  for  resumption,  but 
instead  has  obstructed  resumption,  by  wasting  our  resources 
and  exhausting  all  our  surplus  income;  and,  while  annually 
professing  to  intend  a  speedy  return  to  specie  payments,  has 
annually  enacted  fresh  hindrances  thereto.  As  such  hindrance 
we  denounce  the  resumption  clause  of  the  act  of  1875,  and  we 
here  demand  its  repeal. 

1  We  demand  a  judicious  system  of  preparation  by  public 
economies,  by  official  retrenchments,  and  by  wise  finance, 
which  shall  enable  the  nation  soon  to  assure  the  whole  world 
of  its  perfect  ability  and  its  perfect  readiness  to  meet  any  of 
its  promises  at  the  call  of  the  creditor  entitled  to  payment. 

We  believe  such  a  system,  well  devised,  and,  above  all,  in- 


ELECTION  OF  1876.  165 

trusted  to  competent  hands  for  execution,  creating  at  no  time 
an  artificial  scarcity  of  currency,  and  at  no  time  alarming  the 
public  mind  into  a  withdrawal  of  that  vaster  machinery  of 
credit  by  which  ninety-five  per  cent  of  all  business  transac- 
tions are  performed — a  system  open,  public,  and  inspiring  gen- 
eral confidence — would  from  the  day  of  its  adoption  bring 
healing  on  its  wings  to  all  our  harassed  industries,  set  in 
motion  the  wheels  of  commerce,  manufactures,  and  the  me- 
chanic arts,  restore  employment  to  labor,  and  renew  in  all  its 
natural  sources  the  prosperity  of  the  people. 

Reform  is  necessary  in  the  sum  and  modes  of  federal  taxa- 
tion, to  the  end  that  capital  may  be  set  free  from  distrust, 
and  labor  lightly  burdened. 

We  denounce  the  present  tariff,  levied  upon  nearly  4000 
articles,  as  a  masterpiece  of  injustice,  inequality,  and  false 
pretense.  It  yields  a  dwindling,  not  a  yearly  rising  revenue. 
It  has  impoverished  many  industries  to  subsidize  a  few.  It 
prohibits  imports  that  might  purchase  the  products  of  Amer- 
ican labor.  It  has  degraded  American  commerce  from  the 
first  to  an  inferior  rank  on  the  high  seas.  It  has  cut  down  the 
sales  of  American  manufactures  at  home  and  abroad,  and 
depleted  the  returns  of  American  agriculture — an  industry  fol- 
lowed by  half  our  people.  It  costs  the  people  five  times  more 
than  it  produces  to  the  treasury,  obstructs  the  processes  of 
production,  and  wastes  the  fruits  of  labor.  It  promotes  fraud, 
fosters  smuggling,  enriches  dishonest  officials,  and  bankrupts 
honest  merchants.  We  demand  that  all  custom-house  taxation 
shall  be  only  for  revenue. 

Reform  is  necessary  in  the  scale  of  public  expense — federal, 
state,  and  municipal.  Our  federal  taxation  has  swollen  from 
sixty  millions  gold,  in  1860,  to  four  hundred  and  fifty  millions 
currency,  in  1870;  our  aggregate  taxation  from  one  hundred 
and  fifty-four  millions  gold,  in  1860,  to  seven  hundred  and 
thirty  millions  currency,  in  1870;  or  in  one  decade  from  less 
than  five  dollars  per  head  to  more  than  eighteen  dollars  per 
head.  Since  the  peace,  the  people  have  paid  to  their  tax- 
gatherers  more  than  thrice  the  sum  of  the  national  debt,  and 
more  than  twice  that  sum  for  the  federal  government  alone. 
We  demand  a  rigorous  frugality  in  every  department  and  from 
every  officer  of  the  government. 

Reform  is  necessary  to  put  a  stop  to  the  profligate  waste  of 
public  lands  and  their  diversion  from  actual  settlers  by  the 
party  in  power,  which  has  squandered  200,000,000  acres  upon 


166       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

railroads  alone,  and  out  of  more  than  thrice  that  aggregate  has 
disposed  of  less  than  a  sixth  directly  to  tillers  of  the  soil. 

Reform  is  necessary  to  correct  the  omissions  of  a  Republi- 
can Congress  and  the  errors  of  our  treaties  and  our  diplomacy, 
which  have  stripped  our  fellow-citizens  of  foreign  birth  and 
kindred  race,  recrossing  the  Atlantic,  of  the  shield  of  American 
citizenship,  and  have  exposed  our  brethren  of  the  Pacific  Coast 
to  the  incursions  of  a  race  not  sprung  from  the  same  great 
parent  stock,  and  in  fact  now  by  law  denied  citizenship  through 
naturalization,  as  being  neither  accustomed  to  the  traditions 
of  a  progressive  civilization  nor  exercised  in  liberty  under 
equal  laws.  We  denounce  the  policy  which  thus  discards  the 
liberty-loving  German  and  tolerates  a  revival  of  the  coolie- 
trade  in  Mongolian  women  imported  for  immoral  purposes, 
and  Mongolian  men  held  to  perform  servile  labor  contracts, 
and  demand  such  modification  of  the  treaty  with  the  Chinese 
Empire,  or  such  legislation  within  Constitutional  limitations, 
as  shall  prevent  further  importation  or  immigration  of  the 
Mongolian  race. 

Reform  is  necessary ,  and  can  never  be  effected  but  by  making 
it  the  controlling  issue  of  the  elections,  and  lifting  it  above 
the  two  false  issues  with  which  the  office-holding  class  and 
the  party  in  power  seek  to  smother  it:  — 

1.  The  false  issue  with  which  they  would  enkindle  sectarian 
strife  in  respect  to  the  public  schools,  of  which  the  establish- 
ment and  support  belong  exclusively  to  the  several  states,  and 
which  the  Democratic  party  has  cherished  from  their  founda- 
tion, and  is  resolved  to  maintain  without  prejudice  or  prefer- 
ence for  any  class,  sect,  or  creed,  and  without  largesses  from 
the  treasury  to  any. 

2.  The  false  issue  by  which  they  seek  to  light  anew  the 
dying  embers  of  sectional  hate  between  kindred  peoples  once 
estranged,  but  now  reunited  in  one  indivisible  republic  and  a 
common  destiny. 

Reform  is  necessary  in  the  civil  service.  Experience  proves 
that  efficient,  economical  conduct  of  the  governmental  business 
is  not  possible  if  its  civil  service  be  subject  to  change  at  every 
election,  be  a  prize  fought  for  at  the  ballot-box,  be  a  brief 
reward  of  party  zeal,  instead  of  posts  of  honor  assigned  for 
proved  competency,  and  held  for  fidelity  in  the  public  employ; 
that  the  dispensing  of  patronage  should  neither  be  a  tax  upon 
the  time  of  all  our  public  men  nor  the  instrument  of  their 
ambition.  Here  again  promises  falsified  in  the  performance 


ELECTION  OF  1876.  167 

attebt  that  the  party  in  power  can  work  out  no  practical  or 
salutary  reform. 

Reform  is  necessary  even  more  in  the  higher  grades  of  the 
public  service.  President,  Vice-President,  judges,  senators, 
representatives,  cabinet  officers, — these  and  all  others  in  au- 
thority are  the  people's  servants.  Their  offices  are  not  a 
private  perquisite;  they  are  a  public  trust. 

When  the  annals  of  this  republic  show  the  disgrace  and  cen- 
sure of  a  Vice-President;  a  late  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives marketing  his  rulings  as  a  presiding  officer;  three 
senators  profiting  secretly  by  their  votes  as  law-makers;  five 
chairmen  of  the  leading  committees  of  the  late  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives exposed  in  jobbery;  a  late  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
forcing  balances  in  the  public  accounts;  a  late  Attorney-Gen- 
eral misappropriating  public  funds;  a  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
enriched  or  enriching  friends  by  percentages  levied  off  the 
profits  of  contractors  with  his  department;  an  ambassador  to 
England  censured  in  a  dishonorable  speculation;  the  Presi- 
dent's private  secretary  barely  escaping  conviction  upon  trial 
for  guilty  complicity  in  frauds  upon  the  revenue;  a  Secretary 
of  War  impeached  for  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors — the 
demonstration  is  complete  that  the  first  step  in  reform  must  be 
the  people's  choice  of  honest  men  from  another  party,  lest  the 
disease  of  one  political  organization  infect  the  body  politic, 
and  lest  by  making  no  change  of  men  or  parties  we  get  no 
change  of  measures  and  no  real  reform. 

All  these  abuses,  wrongs,  and  crimes,  the  product  of  sixteen 
years'  ascendency  of  the  Republican  party,  create  a  necessity 
for  reform  confessed  by  Republicans  themselves;  but  their 
reformers  are  voted  down  in  convention  and  displaced  from 
the  cabinet.  The  party's  mass  of  honest  voters  is  powerless 
to  resist  the  80,000  office-holders,  its  leaders  and  guides. 

Reform  can  only  be  had  by  a  peaceful  civic  revolution.  We 
demand  a  change  of  system,  a  change  of  administration,  a 
change  of  parties,  that  we  may  have  a  change  of  measures  and 
of  men. 

Resolved,  That  this  convention,  representing  the  Democratic 
party  of  the  United  States,  do  cordially  indorse  the  action  of 
the  present  House  of  Representatives  in  reducing  and  curtail- 
ing the  expenses  of  the  federal  government,  in  cutting  down 
salaries,  extravagant  appropriations,  and  in  abolishing  useless 
offices  and  places  not  required  by  the  public  necessities;  and 
we  shall  trust  to  the  firmness  of  the  Democratic  members  of 


168        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  House  that  no  committee  of  conference  and  no  misinter- 
pretation of  the  rules  will  be  allowed  to  defeat  these  whole- 
some measures  of  economy  demanded  by  the  country. 

Resolved,  That  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  republic,  and 
the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  have  fallen  in  battle, 
have  a  just  claim  upon  the  care,  protection,  and  gratitude  of 
their  fellow-citizens. 


Republican  National  Committee  • 

Chairman,  ZACH.  CHANDLER,  of  Michigan. 
Secretary,  E.  C.  McCoKMiCK,  of  Arizona. 

Mr.  Chandler  having  resigned,  J.  DONALD  CAMERON  was 
selected  as  Chairman,  and  THOS.  B.  KEOGH,  of  North 
Carolina,  succeeded  Mr.  McCormick  as  Secretary. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  June  14-16,  1876. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  THEODORE  M.  POMEROY, 

of  New  York. 

Chairman,  EDWARD  MCPHERSON, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Rutherford  B.  Hayes, 

of  Ohio. 

For  Vice-President,  William  A.  Wheeler, 

of  New  York. 


ELECTION  OF  1876. 


169 


The  attempt  to  enforce  the  unit  rule  failed,  the  decision 
of  the  chair  being  sustained  by  a  vote  of  395  to  354.  The 
vote  was  taken  on  an  appeal  from  a  decision  of  the  chair  in 
which  he  hud  recognized  the  right  of  four  members  of  the 
Pennsylvania  delegation  to  have  their  votes  separately 
recorded.  The  platform  as  reported  by  the  Committee  on 
Resolutions  was  opposed  by  a  minority.  E.  L.  Pierce,  of 
Massachusetts,  moved  to  strike  out  the  eleventh  resolution, 
relating  to  the  Chinese.  The  motion  to  strike  out  was  lost 
by  a  vote  of  215  to  532.  E.  J.  Davis,  of  Texas,  moved  to 
strike  out  the  fourth  resolution  and  insert  a  clause  for  the 
immediate  resumption  of  specie  payments.  This  was 
rejected  without  a  roll-call,  and  the  platform  was  then 
adopted. 

Seven  ballots  were  taken  for  a  candidate  for  President, 
when  Eutherford  B.  Hayes  was  unanimously  nominated. 
The  following  is  the  ballot  in  detail : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

6th. 

7th. 

JAMES  G.  BLAINE, 
of  .Maine  

285 

296 

293 

292 

286 

308 

351 

OLIVER  P.  MORTON, 

of  Indiana  

125 

120 

113 

108 

05 

85 

BENJAMIN  H.  BRISTOW, 
of  Kentucky  

113 

114 

121 

126 

114 

111 

21 

ROSCOE  CONK  LINO, 
of  New  York  

09 

93 

90 

84 

82 

81 

BUTHERFORD   B.  HAYES, 

of  Ohio  

61 

64 

67 

68 

104 

113 

384 

JOHN  F.  HARTRANFT, 
of  Pennsylvania  

58 

63 

68 

71 

69 

5O 

MARSHALL  JEWELL, 

11 

3 

4 

3 

5 

5 

5 

754 

754 

755 

754 

755 

755 

756 

378 

378 

378 

378 

378 

378 

379 

For  Vice- President,  William  A.  Wheeler,  of  New  York, 
was  unanimously  chosen. 
The  following  is  the  platform  as  adopted:— 


170       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

KEPUBLICAN  PLATFOKM. 

When,  in  the  economy  of  Providence,  this  land  was  to  be 
purged  of  human  slavery,  and  when  the  strength  of  govern- 
ment of  the  people,  by  tne  people,  and  for  the  people  was  to 
be  demonstrated,  the  Republican  party  came  into  power.  Its 
deeds  have  passed  into  history,  and  we  look  back  to  them 
with  pride.  Incited  by  their  memories  to  high  aims  for  the 
good  of  our  country  and  mankind,  and  looking  to  the  future 
with  unfaltering  courage,  hope,  and  purpose,  we,  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  party,  in  national  convention  assembled, 
make  the  following  declaration  of  principles:  — 

1.  The  United  States  of  America  is  a  nation,  not  a  league. 
By  the  combined  workings  of  the  national  and  state  govern- 
ments, under  their  respective  constitutions,  the  rights  of  every 
citizen  are  secured,  at  home  and  abroad,  and  the  common  wel- 
fare promoted. 

2.  The  Republican  party  has  preserved  these  governments 
to  the  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  nation's  birth,  and  they 
are  now  embodiments  of  the  great  truth  spoken  at  its  cradle: 
"  That  all  men  are  created  equal;  that  they  are  endowed  by 
their  Creator  with  certain   inalienable  rights,   among  which 
are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness;   that  for  the 
attainment  of  these  ends  governments  have  been  instituted 
among  men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the 
governed."     Until   these   truths  are   cheerfully   obeyed,   or,   if 
need   be,   vigorously   enforced,   the   work   of   the   Republican 
party  is  unfinished. 

3.  The  permanent  pacification  of  the  southern  section  of  the 
Union  and  the  complete  protection  of  all  its  citizens  in  the 
free  enjoyment  of  all  their  rights,   is  a  duty  to  which   the 
Republican  party  stands  sacredly  pledged.    The  power  to  pro- 
vide for  the  enforcement  of  the  principles  embodied  in  the 
recent  constitutional  amendments  is  vested  by  those  amend- 
ments in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  we  declare  it 
to  be  the  solemn  obligation  of  the  legislative  and  executive 
departments   of  the   government  to  put  into  immediate  and 
vigorous  exercise  all  their  constitutional  powers  for  removing 
any  just  causes  of  discontent  on  the  part  of  any  class,  and  for 
securing  to  every  American  citizen  complete  liberty  and  exact 
equality  in  the  exercise  of  all  civil,  political,  and  public  rights. 
To  this  end  we  imperatively  demand  a  Congress  and  a  Chief 
Executive  whose  courage  and  fidelity  to  these  duties  shall  not 
falter  until  these  results  are  placed  beyond  dispute  or  recall. 


ELECTION  OF  1876.  171 

4.  In  the  first  act  of  Congress  signed  by  President  Grant  the 
national  government  assumed  to  remove  any  doubts  of  its  pur- 
pose to  discharge  all  just  obligations  to  the  public  creditors, 
and  "  solemnly  pledged  its  faith  to  make  provisions,  at  the 
earliest  practicable  period,  for  the  redemption  of  the  United 
States  notes  in  coin."    Commercial  prosperity,  public  morals, 
and  the  national  credit  demand  that  this  promise  be  fulfilled 
by  a  continuous  and  steady  progress  to  specie  payment. 

5.  Under  the  Constitution  the  President  and  heads  of  de- 
partments are  to  make  nominations  for  office;  the  Senate  is  to 
advise  and  consent  to  appointments,  and  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives is  to  accuse  and  prosecute  faithless  officers.    The 
best  interest  of  the  public  service  demands  that  these  distinc- 
tions  be  respected;    that  Senators  and   Representatives  who 
may  be  judges  and  accusers  should  not  dictate  appointments 
to  office.    The  invariable  rule  in  appointments  should  have 
reference   to   the  honesty,   fidelity,   and   capacity  of  the   ap- 
pointees, giving  to  the  party  in  power  those  places  where  har- 
mony  and  vigor  of  administration  require  its   policy  to   be 
represented,  but  permitting  all  others  to  be  filled  by  persons 
selected  with  sole  reference  to   the   efficiency   of  the  public 
service,  and  the  right  of  all  citizens  to  share  in  the  honor  of 
rendering  faithful  service  to  the  country. 

6.  We  rejoice  in  the  quickening  conscience  of  the  people  con- 
cerning political  affairs,  and  will  hold  all  public  officers  to  a 
rigid  responsibility,  and  engage  that  the  prosecution  and  pun- 
ishment of  all  who  betray  official  trusts  shall  be  swift,  thor- 
ough, and  unsparing. 

7.  The  public-school  system  of  the  several  states  is  the  bul- 
wark of  the  American  Republic,  and  with  a  view  to  its  security 
and  permanence  we  recommend  an  amendment  to  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States,  forbidding  the  application  of  any 
public  funds   or  property  for  the  benefit  of  any  schools  or 
institutions  under  sectarian  control. 

8.  The  revenue  necessary  for  current  expenditures  and  the 
obligations  of  the  public  debt  must  be  largely  derived  from 
duties  upon  importations,  which,  so  far  as  possible,  should  be 
adjusted  to  promote  the  interests  of  American  labor  and  ad- 
vance the  prosperity  of  the  whole  country. 

9.  We  reaffirm  our  opposition  to  further  grants  of  the  public 
lands  to  corporations  and  monopolies,  and  demand  that  the 
national  domain  be  devoted  to  free  homes  for  the  people. 

10.  It  is  the  imperative  duty  of  the  government  so  to  modify 


172       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

existing  treaties  with  European  governments  that  the  same 
protection  shall  be  afforded  to  the  adopted  American  citizen 
that  is  given  to  the  native-born;  and  that  all  necessary  laws 
should  be  passed  to  protect  emigrants,  in  the  absence  of  power 
in  the  states  for  that  purpose. 

11.  It  is  the  immediate  duty  of  Congress  to  fully  investigate 
the  effect  of  the  immigration  and  importation  of  Mongolians 
upon  the  moral  and  material  interests  of  the  country. 

12.  The  Republican  party  recognizes  with  approval  the  sub- 
stantial advances  recently  made  toward  the  establishment  of 
equal  rights  for  women,  by  the  many  important  amendments 
effected  by  Republican  legislatures,  in  the  laws  which  concern 
the  personal  and  property  relations  of  wives,  mothers,  and 
widows,  and  by  the  appointment  and  election  of  women  to 
the  superintendence  of  education,  charities,  and  other  public 
trusts.    The  honest  demands  of  this  class  of  citizens  for  addi- 
tional  rights,   privileges,   and   immunities   should   be   treated 
with  respectful  consideration. 

13.  The  Constitution  confers  upon  Congress  sovereign  power 
over  the  territories  of  the  United  States  for  their  government, 
and  in  the  exercise  of  this  power  it  is  the  right  and  duty  of 
Congress  to  prohibit  and  extirpate,  in  the  territories,  that  relic 
of  barbarism,  polygamy;   and  we  demand  such  legislation  as 
shall  secure  this  end  and  the  supremacy  of  American  institu- 
tions in  all  the  territories. 

14.  The  pledges  which  the  nation  has  given  to  her  soldiers 
and  sailors  must  be  fulfilled,  and  a  grateful  people  will  always 
hold  those  who  imperilled  their  lives  for  the  country's  preser- 
vation in  the  kindest  remembrance. 

15.  We  sincerely  deprecate  all  sectional  feeling  and  tenden- 
cies.   We  therefore  note  with  deep  solicitude  that  the  Demo- 
cratic party  counts,   as  its  chief  hope  of  success,   upon  the 
electoral  vote  of  a  united  South,  secured  through  the  efforts 
of  those  who  were  recently  arrayed  against  the  nation;  and  we 
invoke  the  earnest  attention  of  the  country  to  the  grave  truth 
that  a  success  thus  achieved  would  reopen  sectional  strife  and 
imperil  national  honor  and  human  rights. 

16.  We  charge  the  Democratic  party  with  being  the  same  in 
character  and  spirit  as  when  it  sympathized  with  treason;  with 
making  its  control  of  the  House  of  Representatives  the  triumph 
and  opportunity  of  the  nation's  recent  foes;  with  reasserting 
and  applauding  in  the  National  Capitol  the  sentiments  of  un- 
repentant rebellion;  with  sending  Union  soldiers  to  the  rear 


ELECTION  OF  1876.  173 

and  promoting  Confederate  soldiers  to  the  front;  with  deliber- 
ately proposing  to  repudiate  the  plighted  faith  of  the  govern- 
ment; with  being  equally  false  and  imbecile  upon  the  over- 
shadowing financial  question;  with  thwarting  the  ends  of 
justice  by  its  partisan  mismanagements  and  obstruction;  with 
proving  itself,  through  the  period  of  its  ascendency  in  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  utterly  incompetent  to  administer 
the  government;  and  we  warn  the  country  against  trusting  a 
party  thus  alike  unworthy,  recreant,  and  incapable. 

17.  The  national  administration  merits  commendation  for  its 
honorable  work  in  the  management  of  domestic  and  foreign 
affairs,   and   President  Grant   deserves   the   continued  hearty 
gratitude  of  the  American  people  for  his  patriotism  and  his 
eminent  services,  in  war  and  in  peace. 

18.  We  present  as  our  candidates  for  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States  two  distinguished  statesmen, 
of  eminent  ability  and  character,  and  conspicuously  fitted  for 
those  high  offices,  and  we  confidently  appeal  to  the  American 
people  to  intrust  the  administration  of  their  public  affairs  to 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes  and  William  A.  Wheeler. 


INDEPENDENT  NATIONAL  (Greenback)  CONVENTION. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  May  17-18,  1876. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  IGNATIUS  DONNELLY, 

of  Minnesota. 

Chairman,  THOMAS  J.  DUEANT, 

of  Washington,  D.  C. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Peter  Cooper, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Samuel  F.  Cary, 

of  Ohio. 


174:       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

At  this  convention  239  delegates,  from  19  states,  were 
assembled.  Peter  Cooper,  of  New  York,  for  President,  and 
Newton  Booth,  of  California,  for  Vice-President,  were 
nominated  by  acclamation.  Mr.  Booth  having  declined, 
Samuel  F.  Gary,  of  Ohio,  was  substituted. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

INDEPENDENT  NATIONAL  (GREENBACK)  PLATFORM. 

The  Independent  party  is  called  into  existence  by  the  neces- 
sities of  the  people,  whose  industries  are  prostrated,  whose 
labor  is  deprived  of  its  just  reward  by  a  ruinous  policy  which 
the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties  refused  to  change;  and, 
in  view  of  the  failure  of  these  parties  to  furnish  relief  to  the 
depressed  industries  of  the  country,  thereby  disappointing  the 
just  hopes  and  expectations  of  the  suffering  people,  we  declare 
our  principles,  and  invite  all  independent  and  patriotic  men  to 
join  our  ranks  in  this  movement  for  financial  reform  and 
industrial  emancipation. 

First.  We  demand  the  immediate  and  unconditional  repeal 
of  the  Specie-Resumption  Act  of  January  14,  1875,  and  the 
rescue  of  our  industries  from  ruin  and  disaster  resulting  from 
its  enforcement;  and  we  call  upon  all  patriotic  men  to  organ- 
ize in  every  congressional  district  of  the  country,  with  a  view 
of  electing  representatives  to  Congress  who  will  carry  out  the 
wishes  of  the  people  in  this  regard,  and  stop  the  present 
suicidal  and  destructive  policy  of  contraction. 

Second.  We  believe  that  a  United  States  note,  issued  directly 
by  the  government,  and  convertible,  on  demand,  into  United 
States  obligations,  bearing  a  rate  of  interest  not  exceeding  one 
cent  a  day  on  each  one  hundred  dollars,  and  exchangeable  for 
United  States  notes  at  par,  will  afford  the  best  circulating 
medium  ever  devised.  Such  United  States  notes  should  be 
full  legal  tenders  for  all  purposes,  except  for  the  payment  of 
such  obligations  as  are,  by  existing  contracts,  especially  made 
payable  in  coin;  and  we  hold  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  govern- 
ment to  provide  such  a  circulating  medium,  and  insist,  in  the 
language  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  that  "  bank  paper  must  be  sup- 
pressed, and  the  circulation  restored  to  the  nation,  to  whom 
it  belongs." 

Third.    It  is  the  paramount  duty  of  the  government,  in  all 


ELECTION  OF  1876.  175 

its  legislation,  to  keep  in  view  the  full  development  of  all 
legitimate  business — agricultural,  mining,  manufacturing,  and 
commercial. 

Fourth.  We  most  earnestly  protest  against  any  further  issue 
of  gold  bonds  for  sale  in  foreign  markets,  by  which  we  would 
be  made  for  a  long  period  "  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of 
water  "  to  foreigners,  especially  as  the  American  people  would 
gladly  and  promptly  take  at  par  all  bonds  the  government  may 
need  to  sell,  providing  they  are  made  payable  at  the  option  of 
the  holder,  and  bearing  interest  at  3.65  per  cent  per  annum, 
or  even  a  lower  rate. 

Fifth.  We  further  protest  against  the  sale  of  government 
bonds  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  silver  to  be  used  as  a 
substitute  for  our  more  convenient  and  less  fractional  currency, 
which,  although  well  calculated  to  enrich  owners  of  silver 
mines,  yet  in  operation  it  will  still  further  oppress,  in  taxation, 
an  already  overburdened  people. 


PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Cleveland,  O.,  May  17,  1876. 
NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Green  Clay  Smith, 

of  Kentucky. 

For  Vice-President,  G.  T.  Stewart, 

of  Ohio. 

The  convention  made  the  above-named  nominations  and 
adopted  the  following  platform : — 

PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

The  Prohibition  Reform  party  of  the  United  States,  organ- 
ized in  the  name  of  the  people  to  revive,  enforce,  and  perpet- 
uate in  the  government  the  doctrines  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  submit,  in  this  centennial  year  of  the  republic, 
for  the  suffrages  of  all  good  citizens,  the  following  platform 
of  national  reforms  and  measures:  — 


176       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

First.  The  legal  prohibition  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
the  territories,  and  in  every  other  place  subject  to  the  laws  of 
Congress,  of  the  importation,  exportation,  manufacture,  and 
traffic  of  all  alcoholic  beverages  as  high  crimes  against  society; 
an  amendment  of  the  National  Constitution  to  render  these 
prohibitory  measures  universal  and  permanent,  and  the  adop- 
tion of  treaty  stipulations  with  foreign  powers  to  prevent  the 
importation  and  exportation  of  all  alcoholic  beverages. 

Second.  The  abolition  of  class  legislation  and  of  special 
privileges  in  the  government,  and  the  adoption  of  equal  suf- 
frage and  eligibility  to  office,  without  distinction  of  race,  reli- 
gious creed,  property,  or  sex. 

Third.  The  appropriation  of  the  public  lands,  in  limited 
quantities,  to  actual  settlers  only;  the  reduction  of  the  rates  of 
inland  and  ocean  postage,  of  telegraphic  communication,  of 
railroad  and  water  transportation  and  travel,  to  the  lowest 
practical  point,  by  force  of  laws  wisely  and  justly  framed, 
with  reference  not  only  to  the  interest  of  capital  employed, 
but  to  the  higher  plane  of  the  general  good. 

Fourth.  The  suppression  by  law  of  lotteries,  and  gambling 
in  gold,  stocks,  produce,  and  every  form  of  money  and  prop- 
erty, and  the  penal  inhibition  of  the  use  of  the  public  mails  for 
advertising  schemes  of  gambling  and  lotteries. 

Fifth.  The  abolition  of  those  foul  enormities,  polygamy  and 
the  social  evil,  and  the  protection  of  purity,  peace,  and  happi- 
ness of  homes  by  ample  and  efficient  legislation. 

Sixth.  The  national  observance  of  the  Christian  Sabbath, 
established  by  laws  prohibiting  ordinary  labor  and  business  in 
all  departments  of  public  service  and  private  employment 
(works  of  necessity,  charity,  and  religion  excepted)  on  that 
day. 

Seventh.  The  establishment,  by  mandatory  provisions  in 
national  and  state  constitutions,  and  by  all  necessary  legisla- 
tion, of  a  system  of  free  public  schools,  for  the  universal  and 
forced  education  of  all  the  youth  of  the  land. 

Eighth.  The  free  use  of  the  Bible,  not  as  a  ground  of  reli- 
gious creeds,  but  as  a  text-book  of  the  purest  morality,  the 
best  liberty,  and  the  noblest  literature,  in  our  public  schools, 
that  our  children  may  grow  up  in  its  light,  and  that  its  spirit 
and  principles  may  pervade  our  nation. 

Ninth.  The  separation  of  the  government  in  all  its  depart- 
ments and  institutions,  including  the  public  schools  and  all 
funds  for  their  maintenance,  from  the  control  of  every  reli- 

1      -.<*«•  3 


ELECTION  OF  1876.  177 

gious  sect  or  other  association,  and  the  protection  alike  of  all 
sects  by  equal  laws,  with  entire  freedom  of  religious  faith  and 
worship. 

Tenth.  The  introduction  into  all  treaties  hereafter  negoti- 
ated with  foreign  governments,  of  a  provision  for  the  amicable 
settlement  of  international  difficulties  by  arbitration. 

Eleventh.  The  abolition  of  all  barbarous  modes  and  instru- 
ments of  punishment;  the  recognition  of  the  laws  of  God  and 
the  claims  of  humanity  in  the  discipline  of  jails  and  prisons, 
and  of  that  higher  and  wiser  civilization  worthy  of  our  age 
and  nation,  which  regards  the  reform  of  criminals  as  a  means 
for  the  prevention  of  crime. 

Twelfth.  The  abolition  of  executive  and  legislative  patron- 
age, and  the  election  of  President,  Vice-President,  United 
States  senators,  and  of  all  civil  officers,  so  far  as  practicable, 
by  the  direct  vote  of  the  people. 

Thirteenth.  The  practice  of  a  friendly  and  liberal  policy  to 
immigrants  from  all  nations,  the  guarantee  to  them  of  ample 
protection  and  of  equal  rights  and  privileges. 

Fourteenth.  The  separation  of  the  money  of  government 
from  all  banking  institutions.  The  national  government  only 
should  exercise  the  high  prerogative  of  issuing  paper  money, 
and  that  should  be  subject  to  prompt  redemption,  on  demand, 
in  gold  and  silver,  the  only  equal  standards  of  value  recognized 
by  the  civilized  world. 

Fifteenth.  The  reduction  of  the  salaries  of  public  officers  in 
a  just  ratio  with  the  decline  of  wages  and  market  prices;  the 
abolition  of  sinecures,  unnecessary  offices,  and  official  fees  and 
perquisites;  the  practice  of  strict  economy  in  government  ex- 
penses, and  a  free  and  thorough  investigation  into  any  and  all 
alleged  abuses  of  public  trust. 


AMERICAN  NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  James  B.  Walker, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Donald  Kirkpatriek, 

of  New  York. 


178       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

PLATFORM. 
We  hold: 

1.  That  ours  is  a  Christian,  and  not  a  heathen,  nation,  and 
that  the  God  of  the  Christian  Scriptures  is  the  author  of  civil 
government. 

2.  That  God  requires  and  man  needs  a  Sabbath. 

3.  That   the   prohibition   of   the   importation,   manufacture, 
and  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks  as  a  beverage  is  the  true  policy 
on  the  temperance  question. 

4.  The  charters  of  all  secret  lodges  granted  by  our  federal 
and  state  legislatures  should  be  withdrawn,  and  their  oaths 
prohibited  by  law. 

5.  That  the  civil  qualities  secured  to  all  American  citizens 
by  articles  13,  14,  and  15  of  our  amended  Constitution  should 
be  preserved  inviolate. 

6.  That  arbitration  of  differences  with  nations  is  the  most 
direct  and  sure  method  of  securing  and  perpetuating  a  perma- 
nent peace. 

7.  That  to   cultivate  the   intellect  without  improving   the 
morals  of  men  is  to  make  mere  adepts  and  experts;  therefore, 
the  Bible  should  be  associated  with  books  of  science  and  liter- 
ature in  all  our  educational  institutions. 

8.  That   land   and   other   monopolies   should   be   discounte- 
nanced. 

9.  That  the  government  should  furnish  the  people  with  an 
ample  and  sound  currency  and  a  return  to  specie  payment,  as 
soon  as  practicable. 

10.  That  the  maintenance  of  the  public  credit,  protection  to 
all  loyal  citizens,  and  justice  to  Indians  are  essential  to  the 
honor  and  safety  of  our  nation. 

11.  And,  finally,  we  demand  for   the  American  people  the 
abolition  of  electoral  colleges,  and  a  direct  vote  for  President 
and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  7,  1876. 
THIRTY-EIGHT  STATES  VOTED. 


ELECTION  OF  1876. 


179 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Samuel  J.  TlldeD, 
Demucrat. 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes, 
Republican. 

ftj 

11 

\* 

r 

Green  C.  Rmlth, 
rruliibiiioultt. 

*  Scattering. 

Total  vote. 

102  OO2 

68  230 

170  232 

58  071 

38  669 

289 

97  O29 

76  465 

79  269 

47 

19 

155  8OO 

61  934 

59  034 

774 

378 

36 

122  156 

13  381 

1O  752 

24  133 

J  Florida  

22  923 

23849 

46  772 

130  O88 

5O  446 

180  534 

I  llinois  

258,601 

278  232 

17,233 

141 

286 

554,493 

213  526 

2O8  01  1 

9  533 

431  O70 

Iowa  

112,099 

171,327 

9,O01 

36 

292,403 

37  9O2 

78  322 

7  776 

110 

23 

124  183 

Kentucky  

159  69O 

97  156 

1,944 

818 

259,608 

70  5O8 

75  135 

145  643 

49,823 

60  300 

663 

116,786 

91  78O 

71  981 

33 

10 

163  804 

Massachusetts  

108,777 
141  095 

150,063 
166  534 

779 
9O6O 

84 

7<;o 

71 

259,703 
317  5"<> 

48,799 

72,962 

2,311 

72 

124,144 

Mississippi  

112,173 

52,605 

164,778 

2O3  077 

145  O29 

3498 

64 

97 

351,705 

17  554 

31  916 

2  32O 

1  599 

117 

53  5O6 

9,308 

1O,383 

19,691 

New  Hampshire.  .  . 

38,509 
115,962 

41,539 
103  517 

70 

712 

43 

80,124 
220,234 

New  York  

521,949 

489,207 

1,987 

2,359 

1,828 

1,017,330 

North  Carolina  — 
Ohio  

125,427 
323,182 

108,417 
330,698 

3,057 

1,636 

76 

233,844 
658,649 

14  149 

15  2O6 

510 

29  865 

366,158 

384,122 

7,187 

1,319 

83 

758,869 

Rhode  Island  
South  Carolina  — 

10,712 
90,906 
133  166 

15,787 
91,870 
89  566 

68 

60 

26,627 
182,776 
222  732 

Texas  

104,755 

44  8OO 

149,555 

2O  254 

44  092 

64  346 

Virginia  

139,670 

95,558 

235,228 

West  Virginia  .... 
Wisconsin  

56,455 
123,927 

42.698 
130,668 

1,373 
1,509 

27 

100,523 
256  131 

Total  

4,284,757 

4,033,950 

81,74O 

9,522 

2,636 

8,412,605 

* "  Scattering "  includes  the  votes  of  the  Anti-Maaonic  and  American 
Alliance  tickets. 

t  The  electors  were  chosen  by  the  legislature. 

t  Returning  Board's  count,  Nov.  28, 1876.  A  majority  of  94  to  1197  was 
claimed  for  Tilden  by  the  Democrats,  and  the  opinion  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Florida  gave  Tilden  94  majority. 

$  Returning  Board's  count.  The  figures  on  the  face  of  the  returns,  when 
opened  by  the  Board,  are  claimed  to  have  been:  Tilden,  82,326;  Hayes, 
77,023.  Tilden's  majority,  5,303. 


180        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

As  declared  on  March  2,  1877. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes, 
of  Ohio. 

Samuel  J.  Tilden, 
of  New  York. 

William  A.  Wheeler, 
of  New  York. 

Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
of  Indiana. 

10 
6 

"e 

3 

ii 

15 

12 

"s 
"s 

15 

9 
35 
10 

12 

8 

ii 

5 

'e 

3 

'4 
21 

ii 

5 

"s 

7 

18 

11 

5 

"3 
3 
5 

22 
3 
29 
4 

7 

'5 

ib 

10 
6 

'<3 
3 

ii 

15 
i'2 

"s 
"s 

15 

'9 
35 
10 

ib 

8 

ii 

5 

10 
6 
6 
3 
6 
3 
4 
11 
21 
15 
11 
5 
12 
8 
7 
8 
13 
11 
5 
8 
15 
3 
3 
5 
9 
35 
10 
22 
3 
29 
4 
7 
12 
8 
5 
11 
5 
10 

Arkansas  

6 
3 

Delaware  

Florida  

4 

Georgia  

Illinois  

21 

Indiana  

11 
5 

Kansas  

8 

7 

Maryland   

13 
11 
5 

Michigan  

3 
3 
5 

Nevada  

New  York  

North  Carolina  

Ohio  

22 
3 

29 
4 

7 

Khode  Island  

South  Carolina  

Texas  

5 

Virginia  

10 

Total  

185 

184 

185 

184 

369 

ELECTION  OF  1876.  181 

Immediately  after  the  election  the  charge  of  false  returns 
was  made  in  several  states,  and  Congress,  in  consequence, 
passed  the  act  approved  January  29,  1877,  which  provided 
for  the  Electoral  Commission  to  decide  all  disputed  returns. 
The  counting  of  the  electoral  vote  began  on  February  1, 
1877,  and  continued  until  a  little  after  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  of  March  2,  1877. 

Rutherford  B.  Hayes  was  elected  President  and  William 
A.  W  heeler  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Forty-fifth  Congress. 

Senate —  36  Democrats,    89  Republicans,  1  Independent.  .Total,     76 
House — 156  Democrats,  137  Republicans "        293 

Forty-sixth  Congress. 

Senate —  43  Democrats,    33  Republicans Total,     7o 

House — 150  Democrats,  128  Republicans,  14   Nationals,    1 

vacancy "       293 


182       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Democratic  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  WM.  H.  BARNUM,  of  Connecticut. 
Secretary,  F.  0.  PRINCE,  of  Massachusetts. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  June  22-24,  1880. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  GEORGE  HOADLY, 

of  Ohio. 

Chairman,  JOHN  W.  STEVENSON, 

of  Kentucky. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Winfleld  S.  Hancock, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

For  Vice-President,  William  H.  English, 

of  Indiana. 

This  convention  was  organized  so  quickly,  that  balloting 
began  on  the  second  day,  when  General  Hancock  was 
nominated  on  the  second  ballot,  as  follows: 


ELECTION  OF  1880. 


183 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

After 
changes. 

\VINFIELD  S.  HANCOCK, 
of  Pennsylvania  

171 

320 

705 

THOMAS  F.  BAYARD, 
of  Delaware  

153 

113 

2 

HENRY  B.  PAYNE, 
of  Ohio  

80 

ALLEN  G.  THURMAN. 
of  Ohio  

69 

50 

STEPHEN  J.  FIELD, 
of  California  

65 

65 

WILLIAM  R.  MORRISON, 
of  Illinois  

62 

THOMAS  A.  HENDRICKS, 

5O 

31 

3O 

SAMUEL  J.  TILDEN, 
of  New  York  

38 

6 

1 

HORATIO  SEYMOUR, 

38 

6 

1 

SAMUEL  J.  RANDALL, 

128 

For  Vice-President,  William  H.  English,  of  Indiana,  was 
nominated  by  acclamation.  Kichard  M.  Bishop,  of  Ohio, 
had  been  mentioned,  but  his  name  was  later  withdrawn. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

The  Democrats  of  the  United  States,  in  convention  assem- 
bled, declare — 

1.  We  pledge  ourselves  anew  to  the  Constitutional  doctrines 
and  traditions  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  illustrated  by  the 
teachings  and  example  of  a  long  line  of  Democratic  statesmen 
and  patriots,  and  embodied  in  the  platform  of  the  last  national 
convention  of  the  party. 

2.  Opposition   to   centralizationism   and   to   that   dangerous 
spirit  of  encroachment  which  tends  to  consolidate  the  powers 
of  all  the  departments  in  one,  and  thus  to  create,  whatever  be 
the   form   of  government,   a   real   despotism.    No   sumptuary 
laws;   separation  of  church  and  state,  for  the  good  of  each; 
common  schools  fostered  and  protected. 

3.  Home  rule;  honest  money — the  strict  maintenance  of  the 
public  faith — consisting  of  gold  and  silver,  and  paper  converti- 
ble into  coin  on  demand;  the  strict  maintenance  of  the  public 
faith,  state  and  national,  and  a  tariff  for  revenue  only. 


184       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AKD  PLATFORMS. 

4.  The  subordination  of  the  military  to  the  civil  power,  and 
a  general  and  thorough  reform  of  the  civil  service. 

5.  The  right  to  a  free  ballot  is  the  right  preservative  of  all 
rights,  and  must  and  shall  be  maintained  in  every  part  of  the 
United  States. 

6.  The  existing  Administration  is  the  representative  of  con- 
spiracy only,  and  its  claim  of  right  to  surround  the  ballot- 
boxes  with   troops   and   deputy  marshals,  to   intimidate  and 
obstruct  the  electors,  and  the  unprecedented  use  of  the  veto 
to  maintain  its  corrupt  and  despotic  power,  insult  the  people 
and  imperil  their  institutions. 

7.  We  execrate  the  course  of  this  administration  in  making 
places  in  the  civil  service  a  reward  for  political  crime,  and 
demand  a  reform  by  statute  which  shall  make  it  forever  im- 
possible for  the  defeated  candidate  to  bribe  his  way  to  the  seat 
of  the  usurper  by  billeting  villains  upon  the  people. 

8.  The  great  fraud  of  1876-77,  by  which,  upon  a  false  count 
of  the  electoral  votes  of  two  states,  the  candidate  defeated  at 
the  polls  was  declared  to  be  President,  and,  for  the  first  time 
in  American  history,  the  will  of  the  people  was  set  aside  under 
a  threat  of  military  violence,   struck  a  deadly  blow  at  our 
system  of  representative  government;   the  Democratic  party, 
to  preserve  the  country  from  a  civil  war,  submitted  for  a  time 
in  firm  and  patriotic  faith  that  the  people  would  punish  this 
crime  in  1880;  this  issue  precedes  and  dwarfs  every  other:  it 
imposes  a  more  sacred  duty  upon  the  people  of  the  Union  than 
ever  addressed  the  conscience  of  a  nation  of  free  men. 

9.  The  resolution  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden  not  again  to  be  a  can- 
didate for  the  exalted  place  to  which  he  was  elected  by  a 
majority  of  his  countrymen,  and  from  which  he  was  excluded 
by  the  leaders  of  the  Republican  party,   is  received  by  the 
Democrats  of  the  United  States  with  sensibility,  and  they  de- 
clare their  confidence  in  his  wisdom,  patriotism,  and  integrity, 
unshaken  by  the  assaults  of  a  common  enemy,  and  they  fur- 
ther assure  him  that  he  is  followed  into  the  retirement  he  has 
chosen  for  himself  by  the  sympathy  and  respect  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  who  regard  him  as  one  who,  by  elevating  the  stand- 
ards of  public  morality,  merits  the  lasting  gratitude  of  his 
country  and  his  party. 

10.  Free  ships  and  a  living  chance  for  American  commerce 
on  the  seas  and  on  the  land.    No  discrimination  in  favor  of 
transportation  lines,  corporations,  or  monopolies. 

11.  Amendment  of  the  Burlingame  Treaty.    No  more  Chinese 


ELECTION  OF  1880.  185 

immigration,   except  for  travel,  education,  and  foreign  com- 
merce, and  therein  carefully  guarded. 

12.  Public  money  and  public  credit  for  public  purposes  solely, 
and  public  land  for  actual  settlers. 

13.  The  Democratic  party   is  the   friend   of  labor   and  the 
laboring  man,  and  pledges  itself  to  protect  him  alike  against 
the  cormorant  and  the  commune. 

14.  We  congratulate  the  country  upon  the  honesty  and  thrift 
of  a  Democratic  Congress  which  has  reduced  the  public  ex- 
penditure $40000,000  a  year;   upon  the  continuation  of  pros- 
perity at  home  and  the  national  honor  abroad;  and,  above  all, 
upon  th«  promise  of  such  a  change  in  the  administration  of 
the  government  as  shall  insure  us  genuine  and  lasting  reform 
in  every  department  of  the  public  service. 


Republican  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  DWIGHT  M.  SABIN",  of  Minnesota. 
Secretary,  JOHN"  A.  MARTIN,  of  Kansas. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  2-8,  1880. 
Chairman  pro  tern,  and  permanent  Chairman, 

GEORGE  F.  HOAR, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  James  A.  Garfield, 

of  Ohio. 

For  Vice-President,  Chester  A.  Arthur, 

of  New  York. 


186       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Three  days  were  spent  in  perfecting  organization.  It 
was  at  this  convention  that  the  unit-rule  received  its  death- 
blow. Thirty-six  ballots  were  taken  before  James  A.  Gar- 
field,  of  Ohio,  was  nominated  for  President.  The  following 
is  a  brief  summary : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

20th. 

34th. 

35th. 

36th. 

ULYSSES  8.  GRANT, 
of  Ohio  

304 

305 

308 

312 

313 

306 

JAMES  G.  ELAINE, 
of  Maine  

284 

282 

276 

278 

257 

42 

JOHN  SHERMAN, 
of  Ohio  

98 

94 

96 

99 

99 

3 

GEORGE  F.  EDMUNDS, 

34 

32 

31 

11 

11 

E.  B.  WASHBDRNE, 
of  Illinois  

30 

31 

35 

30 

23 

5 

WILLIAM  WINDOM, 

10 

10 

10 

3 

3 

JAMES  A.  GAHFIELD, 
of  Ohio  

10 

1 

17 

50 

399 

Scattering  votes  were  cast  for  E.  B.  Hayes,  Benjamin 
Harrison,  Phil.  Sheridan,  Eoscoe  Conkling,  and  (?)  Mc- 
Creary. 

For  Vice-President,  Chester  A.  Arthur,  of  New  York, 
was  nominated  on  the  first  ballot.  The  following  table 
shows  for  whom  the  votes  were  cast : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR, 
of  New  York  

468 

BLANCHE  K.  BRUCE, 
of  Mississippi  .  .  

8 

ELIHU  B.  WASHBURNE, 
of  Illinois  

199 

JAMES  L.  ALCORN, 

4 

MARSHALL  JEWELL, 

43 

THOMAS  SETTLE, 
of  Florida  

2 

HORACE  MAYNARD, 

30 

STEWART  L.  WOODFORD. 
of  New  York  

1 

EDMUND  J.  DAVIS, 
of  Texas  

20 

The  following  is  the  platform  as  adopted: — 


ELECTION  OF  1880.          187 

KEPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  Republican  party,  in  national  convention  assembled,  at 
the  end  of  twenty  years  since  the  federal  government  was  first 
committed  to  its  charge,  submits  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States  this  brief  report  of  its  administration:  — 

It  suppressed  a  rebellion  which  had  armed  nearly  a  million 
of  men  to  subvert  the  national  authority;  it  reconstructed  the 
union  of  the  states  with  freedom  instead  of  slavery  as  its 
corner-stone;  it  transformed  4,000,000  human  beings  from  the 
likeness  of  things  to  the  rank  of  citizens;  it  relieved  Congress 
of  the  infamous  work  of  hunting  fugitive  slaves,  and  charged 
it  to  see  that  slavery  does  not  exist. 

It  has  raised  the  value  of  our  paper  currency  from  38  per 
cent,  to  the  par  of  gold;  it  nas  restored,  upon  a  solid  basis, 
payment  in  coin  of  all  national  obligations,  and  has  given  us 
a  currency  absolutely  good  and  equal  in  every  part  of  our 
extended  country;  it  has  lifted  the  credit  of  the  nation  from 
the  point  of  where  6  per  cent,  bonds  sold  at  86  to  that  where 
4  per  cent,  bonds  are  eagerly  sought  at  a  premium. 

Under  its  administration  railways  have  increased  from 
31,000  miles  in  1860  to  more  than  82,000  miles  in  1879. 

Our  foreign  trade  increased  from  $700,000,000  to  $1,150,- 
000,000  in  the  same  time,  and  our  exports,  which  were  $20,- 
000,000  less  than  our  imports  in  I860,  were  $265,000,000  more 
than  our  imports  in  1879. 

Without  resorting  to  loans,  it  has,  since  the  war  closed,  de- 
frayed the  ordinary  expenses  of  government  besides  the  accru- 
ing interest  on  the  public  debt,  and  has  disbursed  annually 
more  than  $30,000,000  for  soldiers'  and  sailors'  pensions.  It 
has  paid  $880,000,000  of  the  public  debt,  and,  by  refunding  the 
balance  at  lower  rates,  has  reduced  the  annual  interest-charge 
from  nearly  $150,000,000  to  less  than  $89,000,000. 

All  the  industries  of  the  country  have  revived,  labor  is  in 
demand,  wages  have  increased,  and  throughout  the  entire 
country  there  is  evidence  of  a  coming  prosperity  greater  than 
we  have  ever  enjoyed. 

Upon  this  record  the  Republican  party  asks  for  the  con- 
tinued confidence  and  support  of  the  people,  and  this  conven- 
tion submits  for  their  approval  the  following  statement  of  the 
principles  and  purposes  which  will  continue  to  guide  and  in- 
spire its  efforts: 

1.  We  affirm  that  the  work  of  the  Republican  party  for  the 
last  twenty  years  has  been  such  as  to  commend  it  to  the  favor 


188       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

of  the  nation;  that  the  fruits  of  the  costly  victories  which  we 
have  achieved  through  immense  difficulties  should  be  pre- 
served; that  the  peace  regained  should  be  cherished;  that  the 
Union  should  be  perpetuated,  and  that  the  liberty  secured  to 
this  generation  should  be  transmitted  undiminished  to  other 
generations;  that  the  order  established  and  the  credit  acquired 
should  never  be  impaired;  that  the  pensions  promised  should 
be  paid;  that  the  debt,  so  much  reduced,  should  be  extin- 
guished by  the  full  payment  of  every  dollar  thereof;  that  the 
reviving  industries  should  be  further  promoted,  and  that  the 
commerce,  already  increasing,  should  be  steadily  encouraged. 

2.  The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  is  a  supreme  law, 
and  not  a  mere  contract.    Out  of  confederated  states  it  made  a 
sovereign   nation.     Some   powers   are   denied    to    the   nation, 
while  others  are  denied  to  the  states;  but  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  powers  delegated  and  those  reserved  is  to  be  deter- 
mined by  the  national,  and  not  by  the  state  tribunal. 

3.  The  work  of  popular  education  is  one  left  to  the  care  of 
the  several  states,  but  it  is  the  duty  of  the  national  govern- 
ment to  aid   that   work   to   the  extent   of   its   constitutional 
ability.    The  intelligence  of  the  nation  is  but  the  aggregate 
of  the  intelligence  in  the  several  states,  and  the  destiny  of 
the  nation  must  be  guided,  not  by  the  genius  of  any  one  state, 
but  by  the  average  genius  of  all. 

4.  The  Constitution  wisely  forbids  Congress  to   make  any 
law  respecting  the  establishment  of  religion,  but  it  is  idle  to 
hope  that  the  nation  can  be  protected  against  the  influence  of 
secret  sectarianism  while  each  state  is  exposed  to  its  domi- 
nation.   We  therefore  recommend  that  the  Constitution  be  so 
amended  as  to  lay  the  same  prohibition  upon  the  legislature 
of  each  state,  and  to  forbid  the  appropriation  of  public  funds 
to  the  support  of  sectarian  schools. 

5.  We  reaffirm  the  belief  avowed  in  1876,   that  the  duties 
levied  for  the  purpose  of  revenue  should  so  discriminate  as  to 
favor  American  labor;   that  no  further  grants  of  the  public 
domain  should  be  made  to  any  railway  or  other  corporation; 
that,  slavery  having  perished  in  the  states,  its  twin  barbarity — 
polygamy — must  die  in  the  territories;    that  everywhere  the 
protection  accorded  to  a  citizen  of  American  birth  must  be 
secured  to  citizens  by  American  adoption;   that  we  deem  it 
the  duty  of  Congress  to  develop  and  improve  our  seacoast  and 
harbors,  but  insist  that  further  subsidies  to  private  persons  or 
corporations  must  cease;  that  the  obligations  of  the  republic 


ELECTION  OF  1880.  189 

to  the  men  who  preserved  its  integrity  in  the  day  of  battle 
are  undiminished  by  the  lapse  of  fifteen  years  since  their  final 
victory — to  do  them  honor  is  and  shall  forever  be  the  grateful 
privilege  and  sacred  duty  of  the  American  people. 

6.  Since  the  authority  to  regulate  immigration  and  inter- 
course between  the  United  States  and  foreign  nations  rests 
with  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  and  the  treaty-making 
power,  the  Republican  party,  regarding  the  unrestricted  immi- 
gration of  Chinese  as  a  matter  of  grave  concernment  under  the 
exercise  of  both  these  powers,  would  limit  and  restrict  that 
immigration  by  the  enactment  of  such  just,  humane,  and  rea- 
sonable laws  and  treaties  as  will  produce  that  result. 

7.  That  the  purity  and  patriotism  which  characterized  the 
earlier  career  of  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  in  peace  and  war,  and 
which  guided  the  thoughts  of  our  immediate  predecessors  to 
him  for  a  presidential  candidate,  have  continued  to  inspire 
him  in  his  career  as  Chief  Executive;   and  that  history  will 
accord  to  his  administration  the  honors  which  are  due  to  an 
efficient,  just,  and  courteous  discharge  of  the  public  business, 
and  will  honor  his  vetoes  interposed  between  the  people  and 
attempted  partisan  laws. 

8.  We  charge  upon  the  Democratic  party  the  habitual  sacri- 
fice of  patriotism  and  justice  to  a  supreme  and  insatiable  lust 
for   office  and   patronage;    that  to   obtain   possession   of   the 
national  government  and  control  of  the  place,  they  have  ob- 
structed all  efforts  to  promote  the  purity  and  to  conserve  the 
freedom  of  the  suffrage,  and  have  devised  fraudulent  ballots 
and  invented  fraudulent  certification  of  returns;  have  labored 
to  unseat  lawfully  elected  members  of  Congress,  to  secure  at 
all  hazards  the  vote  of  a  majority  of  the  states  in  the  House 
of  Representatives;  have  enleavored  to  occupy  by  force  and 
fraud  the  places  of  trust  given  to  others  by  the  people  of 
Maine,  rescued  by  the  courage  and  action  of  Maine's  patriotic 
sons;  have,  by  methods  vicious  in  principle  and  tyrannical  in 
practice,  attached  partisan  legislation  to  appropriation  bills 
upon  whose  passage  the  very  movement  of  the  government 
depended;   have  crushed  the  rights  of  the   individual;    have 
advocated  the  principles  and  sought  the  favor  of  the  rebellion 
against   the   nation,   and   have   endeavored   to  obliterate   the 
sacred  memories  and  to  overcome  its  inestimably  valuable  re- 
sults of  nationality,  personal  freedom,  and  individual  equality. 

The  equal,  steady,  and  complete  enforcement  of  the  laws 
and  the  protection  of  all  our  citizens  in  the  enjoyment  of  all 


190        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  privileges  and  immunities  guaranteed  by  the  Constitution, 
are  the  first  duties  of  the  nation. 

The  dangers  of  a  "  Solid  South  "  can  only  be  averted  by'  a 
faithful  performance  of  every  promise  which  the  nation  has 
made  to  the  citizen.  The  execution  of  the  laws,  and  the  pun- 
ishment of  all  those  who  violate  them,  are  the  only  safe 
methods  by  which  an  enduring  peace  can  be  secured  and 
genuine  prosperity  established  throughout  the  South.  What- 
ever promises  the  nation  makes  the  nation  must  perform.  A 
nation  cannot  with  safety  relegate  this  duty  to  the  states. 
The  "  Solid  South  "  must  be  divided  by  the  peaceful  agencies 
of  the  ballot,  and  all  honest  opinions  must  there  find  free 
expression.  To  this  end  the  honest  voter  must  be  protected 
against  terrorism,  violence,  or  fraud. 

And  we  affirm  it  to  be  the  duty  and  the  purpose  of  the 
Republican  party  to  use  all  legitimate  means  to  restore  all  the 
states  of  this  Union  to  the  most  perfect  harmony  which  may 
be  possible,  and  we  submit  to  the  practical,  sensible  people  of 
these  United  States  to  say  whether  it  would  not  be  dangerous 
to  the  dearest  interests  of  our  country  at  this  time  to  surrender 
the  administration  of  the  national  government  to  a  party 
which  seeks  to  overthrow  the  existing  policy  under  which  we 
are  so  prosperous,  and  thus  bring  distrust  and  confusion  where 
there  is  now  order,  confidence,  and  hope. 

9.  The  Republican  party,  adhering  to  the  principles  affirmed 
by  its  last  national  convention  of  respect  for  the  constitutional 
rules  governing  appointments  to  office,  adopts  the  declaration 
of  President  Hayes  that  the  reform  of  the  civil  service  should 
be  thorough,  radical,  and  complete.  To  this  end  it  demands 
the  co-operation  of  the  legislative  with  the  executive  depart- 
ments of  the  government,  and  that  Congress  shall  so  legislate 
that  fitness,  ascertained  by  proper  practical  tests,  shall  adrnil 
to  the  public  service, 

GREENBACK  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  9-11,  1880. 

Chairman  pro  tern., 

REV.  GILBERT  DE  LA  MATYR, 

of  Indiana. 

Chairman,  RICHARD  TREVELLICK, 

of  Michigan. 


ELECTION  OF  1880. 


191 


NOMINATED — 

For  President,  James  B.  Weaver, 


of  Iowa. 


For  Vice-President,  B.  J.  Chambers, 

of  Texas. 

At  this  convention  James  B.   Weaver,  of   Iowa,   was 
nominated  for  President  on  the  first  ballot: — 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

JAMES  B.  WEAVER, 

224.% 

SOLON  CHASE, 

89 

HENDRICK  B.  WRIGHT, 

126  % 

EDWARD  P.  ALLIS, 

41 

STEPHEN  D.  DILLAYE, 
of  New  York        

119 

ALEXANDER  CAMPBELL, 
of  Illinois  

21 

BENJAMIN  F.  BUTLER, 
of  Massachusetts  

95 

Mr.  Weaver's  nomination  was  afterward  made  unanimous. 

On  a  vote  for  a  candidate  for  Vice-President,  B.  J. 
Chambers,  of  Texas,  received  403  votes,  and  Alanson  M. 
West,  of  Mississippi,  311 ;  whereupon  Mr.  Chambers  was 
unanimously  nominated. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

GREENBACK  PLATFORM. 

First.  That  the  right  to  make  and  issue  money  is  a  sover- 
eign power,  to  be  maintained  by  the  people  for  their  common 
benefit.  The  delegation  of  this  right  to  corporations  is  a  sur- 
render of  the  central  attribute  of  sovereignty,  void  of  constitu- 
tional sanction,  and  conferring  upon  a  subordinate  and  irre- 
sponsible power  an  absolute  dominion  over  industry  and  com- 
merce. All  money,  whether  metallic  or  paper,  should  be 
issued,  and  its  volume  controlled,  by  the  government,  and  not 
by  or  through  banking  corporations;  and,  when  so  issued, 
should  be  a  full  legal  tender  for  all  debts,  public  and  private 

Second.  That  the  bonds  of  the  United  States  should  not  be 
refunded,  but  paid  as  rapidly  as  practicable,  according  to  con- 
tract. To  enable  the  government  to  meet  these  obligations, 
legal-tender  currency  should  be  substituted  for  the  notes  of 


192       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  national  banks,  the  national  banking  system  abolished, 
and  the  unlimited  coinage  of  silver,  as  well  as  gold,  established 
by  law. 

Third.  That  labor  should  be  so  protected  by  national  and 
state  authority  as  to  equalize  its  burdens  and  insure  a  just 
distribution  of  its  results.  The  eight-hour  law  of  Congress 
should  be  enforced;  the  sanitary  condition  of  industrial  estab- 
lishments placed  under  rigid  control;  the  competition  of  con- 
tract convict  labor  abolished;  a  bureau  of  labor  statistics 
established;  factories,  mines,  and  workshops  inspected;  the 
employment  of  children  under  fourteen  years  of  age  forbidden; 
and  wages  paid  in  cash. 

Fourth.  Slavery  being  simply  cheap  labor,  and  cheap  labor 
being  simply  slavery,  the  importation  and  presence  of  Chinese 
serfs  necessarily  tends  to  brutalize  and  degrade  American 
labor;  therefore  immediate  steps  should  be  taken  to  abrogate 
the  Burlingame  Treaty. 

Fifth.  Railroad  land  grants  forfeited  by  reason  of  non-ful- 
fillment of  contract  should  be  immediately  reclaimed  by  the 
government;  and  henceforth  the  public  domain  reserved  ex- 
clusively as  homes  for  actual  settlers. 

Sixth.  It  is  the  duty  of  Congress  to  regulate  interstate  com- 
merce. All  lines  of  communication  and  transportation  should 
be  brought  under  such  legislative  control  as  shall  secure  mod- 
erate, fair,  and  uniform  rates  for  passenger  and  freight  traffic. 

Seventh.  We  denounce  as  destructive  to  property  and  dan- 
gerous to  liberty,  the  action  of  the  old  parties  in  fostering  and 
sustaining  gigantic  land,  railroad,  and  money  corporations, 
and  monopolies  invested  with  and  exercising  powers  belong- 
ing to  the  government,  and  yet  not  responsible  to  it  for  the 
manner  of  their  exercise. 

Eighth.  That  the  Constitution,  in  giving  Congress  the  power 
to  borrow  money,  to  declare  war,  to  raise  and  support  armies, 
to  provide  and  maintain  a  navy,  never  intended  that  the  men 
who  loaned  their  money  for  an  interest  consideration  should 
be  preferred  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  perilled  their  lives 
and  shed  their  blood  on  land  and  sea  in  defense  of  their 
country;  and  we  condemn  the  cruel  class-legislation  of  the 
Republican  party,  which,  while  professing  great  gratitude  to 
the  soldier,  has  most  unjustly  discriminated  against  him  and 
in  favor  of  the  bondholder. 

Ninth.  All  property  should  bear  its  just  proportion  of  taxa- 
tion, and  we  demand  a  graduated  income  tax. 


ELECTION  OF  1880.  193 

Tenth.  We  denounce  as  dangerous  the  efforts  everywhere 
manifest  to  restrict  the  right  of  suffrage. 

Eleventh.  We  are  opposed  to  an  increase  of  the  standing 
army  in  time  of  peace,  and  the  insidious  scheme  to  establish 
an  enormous  military  power  under  the  guise  of  militia  laws. 

Twelfth.  We  demand  absolute  democratic  rules  ior  the 
government  of  Congress,  placing  all  representatives  of  the 
people  upon  an  equal  footing,  and  taking  away  from  com- 
mittees a  veto  power  greater  than  that  of  the  President. 

Thirteenth.  We  demand  a  government  of  the  people,  by  the 
people,  and  for  the  people,  instead  of  a  government  of  the 
bondholder,  by  the  bondholder,  and  for  the  bondholder;  and 
we  denounce  every  attempt  to  stir  up  sectional  strife  as  an 
effort  to  conceal  monstrous  crimes  against  the  people. 

Fourteenth.  In  the  furtherance  of  these  ends  we  ask  the  co- 
operation of  all  fair-minded  people.  We  have  no  quarrel  with 
individuals,  wage  no  war  on  classes,  but  only  against  vicious 
institutions.  We  are  not  content  to  endure  further  discipline 
from  our  present  actual  rulers,  who,  having  dominion  over 
money,  over  transportation,  over  land  and  labor,  over  the 
press  and  the  machinery  of  government,  wield  unwarrantable 
power  over  our  institutions  and  over  our  life  and  property. 

Fifteenth.  That  every  citizen  of  due  age,  sound  mind,  and 
not  a  felon,  be  fully  enfranchised,  and  that  this  resolution  be 
referred  to  the  states,  with  recommendation  for  their  favor- 
able consideration. 


PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Cleveland,  O.,  June  17, 1880. 
Chairman,  REV.  DR.  MINER, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Neal  Dow, 

of  Maine. 

For  Vice-President,  A.  M.  Thompson, 

of  Ohio. 


194       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Only  twelve  states  were  represented,  by  142  delegates, 
Neal  Dow,  of  Maine,  was  nominated  for  President  and  A. 
M.  Thompson,  of  Ohio,  for  Vice-President. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

PROHIBITION   PLATFORM. 

The  Prohibition  Reform  party  of  the  United  States,  organ- 
ized in  the  name  of  the  people,  to  revive,  enforce,  and  perpet- 
uate in  the  government  the  doctrines  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  submit,  for  the  suffrage  of  all  good  citizens,  the 
following  platform  of  national  reforms  and  measures. 

In  the  examination  and  discussion  of  the  temperance  ques- 
tion, it  has  been  proven,  and  is  an  accepted  truth,  that  alco- 
holic drinks,  whether  fermented,  brewed,  or  distilled,  are 
poisonous  to  the  healthy  human  body,  the  drinking  of  which 
is  not  only  needless  but  hurtful,  necessarily  tending  to  form 
intemperate  habits,  increasing  greatly  the  number,  severity, 
and  fatal  termination  of  diseases,  weakening  and  deranging 
the  intellect,  polluting  the  affections,  hardening  the  heart,  and 
corrupting  the  morals;  depriving  many  of  reason  and  still 
more  of  its  healthful  exercise,  and  annually  bringing  down 
large  numbers  to  untimely  graves;  producing  in  the  children 
of  many  who  drink,  a  predisposition  to  intemperance,  insanity, 
and  various  bodily  and  mental  diseases;  causing  diminution 
of  strength,  feebleness  of  vision,  fickleness  of  purpose,  and 
premature  old  age,  and  inducing,  in  all  future  generations, 
deterioration  of  moral  and  physical  character.  Alcoholic 
drinks  are  thus  the  implacable  foe  of  man  as  an  individual. 

First.  The  legalized  importation,  manufacture,  and  sale  of 
intoxicating  drinks  ministers  to  their  use,  and  teaches  the 
erroneous  and  destructive  sentiment  that  such  use  is  right, 
thus  tending  to  produce  and  perpetuate  the  above-mentioned 
evils. 

Second.  To  the  home  it  is  an  enemy — proving  itself  to  be 
a  disturber  and  destroyer  of  its  peace,  prosperity,  and  happi- 
ness; taking  from  it  the  earnings  of  the  husband;  depriving 
the  dependent  wife  and  children  of  essential  food,  clothing, 
and  education;  bringing  into  it  profanity,  abuse,  and  violence; 
setting  at  naught  the  vows  of  the  marriage  altar;  breaking  up 
the  family  and  sundering  the  children  from  the  parents,  and 
thus  destroying  one  of  the  most  beneficent  institutions  of  our 


ELECTION  OF  1880.  195 

Creator;  and  removing  the  sure  foundation  of  good  govern- 
ment, national  prosperity,  and  welfare. 

Third.  To  the  community  it  is  equally  an  enemy — produc- 
ing vice,  demoralization,  and  wickedness;  its  places  of  sale 
being  resorts  of  gaming,  lewdness,  and  debauchery,  and  the 
hiding-place  of  those  who  prey  upon  society;  counteracting 
the  efficacy  of  religious  effort,  and  of  all  means  of  intellectual 
elevation,  moral  purity,  social  happiness,  and  the  eternal  good 
of  mankind,  without  rendering  any  counteracting  or  compen- 
sating benefits;  being  in  its  influence  and  effect  evil  and  only 
evil,  and  that  continually. 

Fourth.  To  the  state  it  is  equally  an  enemy — legislative 
inquiries,  judicial  investigations,  and  official  reports  of  all 
penal,  reformatory,  and  dependent  institutions  showing  that 
the  manufacture  and  sale  of  such  beverages  is  the  promoting 
cause  of  intemperance,  crime,  and  pauperism,  and  of  demands 
upon  public  and  private  charity,  imposing  the  larger  part  of 
taxation,  paralyzing  thrift,  industry,  manufactures,  and  com- 
mercial life,  which,  but  for  it,  would  be  unnecessary;  disturb- 
ing the  peace  of  streets  and  highways;  filling  prisons  and 
poor-houses;  corrupting  politics,  legislation,  and  the  execution 
of  the  laws;  shortening  lives;  diminishing  wealth,  industry, 
and  productive  power  in  manufactures  and  art;  and  is  mani- 
festly unjust  as  well  as  injurious  to  the  community  upon  which 
it  is  imposed,  and  is  contrary  to  all  just  views  of  civil  liberty, 
as  well  as  a  violation  of  the  fundamental  maxim  of  our  com- 
mon law,  to  use  your  own  property  or  liberty  so  as  not  to 
injure  others. 

Fifth.  It  is  neither  right  nor  politic  for  the  state  to  afford 
legal  protection  to  any  traffic  or  any  system  which  tends  to 
waste  the  resources,  to  corrupt  the  social  habits,  and  to  destroy 
the  health  and  lives  of  the  people;  that  the  importation,  man- 
ufacture, and  sale  of  intoxicating  beverages  is  proven  to  be 
inimical  to  the  true  interest  of  the  individual  home,  commu- 
nity, and  state,  and  destructive  to  the  order  and  welfare  of 
Eociety,  and  ought,  therefore,  to  be  classed  among  crimes  to 
be  prohibited. 

KlxtJi.  In  this  time  of  profound  peace  at  home  and  abroad, 
the  entire  separation  of  the  general  government  from  the 
drink  traffic,  and  its  prohibition  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
territories,  and  in  all  places  and  ways  over  which,  under  the 
Constitution,  Congress  has  control  and  power,  is  a  political 
issue  of  the  first  importance  to  the  peace  and  prosperity  of 


196       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  nation.  There  can  be  no  stable  peace  and  protection  to 
personal  liberty,  life,  or  property  until  secured  by  national  or 
state  constitutional  provisions,  enforced  by  adequate  laws. 

Seventh.  All  legitimate  industries  require  deliverance  from 
the  taxation  and  loss  which  the  liquor  traffic  imposes  upon 
them,  and  financial  or  other  legislation  could  not  accomplish 
so  much  to  increase  production  and  cause  a  demand  for  labor — 
and,  as  a  result,  for  the  comforts  of  living — as  the  suppression 
of  this  traffic  would  bring  to  thousands  of  homes,  as  one  of  its 
blessings. 

Eighth.  The  administration  of  the  government  and  the  exe- 
cution of  the  laws  are  through  political  parties;  and  we  arraign 
the  Republican  party,  which  has  been  in  continuous  power  in 
the  nation  for  twenty  years,  as  being  false  to  duty,  as  false  to 
loudly  proclaimed  principles  of  equal  justice  to  all  and  special 
favors  to  none,  and  of  protection  to  the  weak  and  dependent; 
insensible  to  the  mischief  which  the  trade  in  liquor  has  con- 
stantly inflicted  upon  industry,  trade,  commerce,  and  the  social 
happiness  of  the  people;  that  5652  distilleries,  3830  breweries, 
and  175,266  places  for  the  sale  of  these  poisonous  liquors,  in- 
volving an  annual  waste  to  the  nation  of  one  million  five  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  and  the  sacrifice  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand lives,  have,  under  its  legislation,  grown  up  and  been 
fostered  as  a  legitimate  source  of  revenue;  that  during  its 
history  six  territories  have  been  organized  and  five  states  been 
admitted  into  the  Union,  with  constitutions  provided  and  ap- 
proved by  Congress,  but  the  prohibition  of  this  debasing  and 
destructive  traffic  has  not  been  provided  for,  nor  even  the 
people  given,  at  the  time  of  admission,  power  to  forbid  it  in 
any  one  of  them.  Its  history  further  shows  that  not  in  a 
single  instance  has  an  original  prohibitory  law  been  passed 
by  any  state  that  was  controlled  by  it,  while  in  four  states  so 
governed  the  laws  found  on  its  advent  to  power  have  been 
repealed.  At  its  national  convention  in  1872  it  declared,  as 
part  of  its  party  faith,  that  "  it  disapproves  of  the  resort  to 
unconstitutional  laws  for  the  purpose  of  removing  evils,  by 
interference  with  rights  not  surrendered  by  the  people  to 
either  the  state  or  national  government,"  which,  the  author  of 
this  plank  says,  was  adopted  by  the  platform  committee  with 
the  full  and  implicit  understanding  that  its  purpose  was  the 
discountenancing  of  all  so-called  Temperance,  Prohibitory  and 
Sunday  laws. 

Ninth,    We  arraign  also  the  Democratic  party  as  unfaithful, 


ELECTION  OF  1880.  19t 

and  unworthy  of  reliance  on  this  question;  for,  although  not 
clothed  with  power,  but  occupying  the  relation  of  an  opposi- 
tion party  during  twenty  years  past,  strong  in  numbers  and 
organization,  it  has  allied  itself  with  liquor  traffickers,  and 
become,  in  all  the  states  of  the  Union,  their  special  political 
defenders,  and  in  its  national  convention  in  1876,  as  an  article 
of  its  political  faith,  declared  against  prohibition  and  just  laws 
in  restraint  of  the  trade  in  drink,  by  saying  it  was  opposed  to 
what  it  was  pleased  to  call  "  all  sumptuary  laws."  The  Na- 
tional party  has  been  dumb  on  this  question. 

Tenth.  Drink-traffickers,  having  the  history  and  experience 
of  all  ages,  climes,  and  conditions  of  men,  declaring  their  busi- 
ness destructive  of  all  good — finding  no  support  in  the  Bible, 
morals,  or  reason — appeal  to  misapplied  law  for  their  justifica- 
tion, and  intrench  themselves  behind  the  evil  elements  of 
political  party  for  defense,  and  thus  party  tactics  and  party 
inertia  become  battling  forces  protecting  this  evil. 

Eleventh.  In  view  of  the  foregoing  facts  and  history,  we  cor- 
dially invite  all  voters,  without  regard  to  former  party  affilia- 
tions, to  unite  with  us  in  the  use  of  the  ballot  for  the  abolition 
of  the  drinking  system  under  the  authority  of  our  national 
and  state  governments.  We  also  demand,  as  a  right,  that 
women,  having  the  privilege  of  citizens  in  other  respects,  be 
clothed  with  the  ballot  for  their  protection  and  as  a  rightful 
means  for  the  proper  settlement  of  the  liquor  question. 

Twelfth.  To  remove  the  apprehension  of  some  who  allege 
that  a  loss  of  public  revenue  would  follow  the  suppression  of 
a  direct  trade,  we  confidently  point  to  the  experience  of  gov- 
ernments abroad  and  at  home,  which  shows  that  thrift  and 
revenue  from  the  consumption  of  legitimate  manufactures  and 
commerce  have  so  largely  followed  the  abolition  of  drink  as  to 
fully  supply  all  loss  of  liquor-taxes. 

Thirteenth.  We  recognize  the  good  providence  of  Almighty 
God,  Who  has  preserved  and  prospered  us  as  a  nation;  and, 
asking  for  His  Spirit  to  guide  us  to  ultimate  success,  we  all 
look  for  it,  relying  upon  His  omnipotent  arm. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  2, 1880. 
THIRTY-EIGHT  STATES  TOTED. 


198       HATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND 


POFULAB    VOTE. 


STATES. 

James  A.  Garfleld, 
Republican. 

Winfleld  S.  Hancock, 
Democrat. 

James  B.  Weaver, 
Greenbacker. 

Neal  Dow. 
Prohibitionist. 

Total 
vote. 

56221 

91,185 

4,642 

152  048 

Arkansas  

42,436 

60,775 

4,079 

107,290 

80  348 

80,426 

3,392 

164  166 

27  450 

24  647 

1435 

53  532 

67  071 

64,415 

868 

409 

132'763 

14  133 

15  275 

120 

29  528 

Klorida  

23'654 

27964 

5l'618 

54  086 

102  470 

969 

157  525 

Illinois  

318'037 

277  321 

26,358 

443 

622,158 

232  164 

225  522 

12986 

470  67'  J 

183  927 

105  845 

32,701 

592 

323*065 

121  549 

59  801 

19851 

25 

201  22(5 

Kentucky  

106  306 

149,068 

11,499 

258 

267  131 

*  38  637 

65  067 

439 

104  143 

Maine  

74039 

t  65,  171 

4,408 

93 

143  711 

78  515 

93  706 

818 

173  039 

Muy^achusettB  

165,205 

111,960 

4,548 

682 

282  395 

185  341 

131,597 

34,895 

942 

352  775 

93  903 

53  315 

3  267 

286 

15O  771 

Mississippi  

34  854 

75,750 

5,797 

116  401 

153  567 

2O8  609 

35  135 

397  31  1 

Nebraska  

54979 

28,523 

3,950 

87  452 

8  732 

9613 

18345 

New  Hampshire  

44,852 

40,794 

528 

180 

86  854 

New  Jersey  > 

120  555 

122,565 

2,617 

191 

245  928 

New  York  

555,544 

534,511 

12,373 

1,517 

1,103  945 

North  Carolina  

115,874 

124,208 

1,126 

241  208 

Ohio  

375  048 

340  821 

6456 

2616 

724  941 

Oro!ron  

20,619 

19,948 

249 

40'816 

444  7O4 

407,428 

20,668 

1  939 

874  739 

Rhode  Island  

18,195 

10,779 

236 

20 

29  230 

58O71 

112,312 

566 

170  949 

Tennessee  

107,677 

128,191 

5,917 

43 

241,828 

Texas  

57  893 

156,428 

27,405 

241  726 

Vermont  

45,567 

18,316 

1,215 

65,098 

84,020 

t  128,586 

212  606 

West  Virginia  

46,243 

57,391 

9,079 

112,713 

Wisconsin  

144,400 

114,649 

7,986 

69 

267,104 

Total  

4,454,416 

4,444,952 

308,578 

10,305 

9,218,251 

*  Two  Republican  tickets  were  voted  for. 

t  Votes  for  a  fusion  electoral  ticket,  made  up  of  three  Democrats  and 
four  Greenbackers.  A  "  straight "  G reenback  ticket  was  also  voted  for. 

$  Two  Democratic  tickets  were  voted  for  in  Virginia.  The  regular  ticket 
received  96,913,  and  was  successful;  the  "Keadjusters"  polled  31,674  votes. 


ELECTION  OF  1880. 


199 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  9,  1881. 


STATES. 

PllESIDENT. 

VlCE- 

PRKSIDENT. 

Number  entitled  to  vote. 

James  A.  Garfleld, 
of  Ohio. 

Wir.fleld  S.  Hancock, 
of  Pennsylvania, 

Chester  A.  Arthur, 
of  New  York. 

William  H.  English, 
of  Indiana. 

Alabama  

10 
6 
5 

3 
4 
11 

1 
3 
G 

21 
15 
11 
5 

7 

13 
11 
5 

3 
5 
35 

22 
3 
29 
4 

5 
10 

10 
6 
5 

'3 
4 
11 

12 

8 

8 

8 

15 

8 

9 
10 

7 
12 
8 

11 
5 

1O 
6 
6 
3 
6 
3 
4 
11 
21 
15 
11 
5 
12 
8 
7 
8 
13 
11 
5 
8 
15 
3 
3 
5 
9 
35 
10 
22 
3 
£9 
4 
7 
12 
S 
5 
11 
5 
10 

Arkansas  

California  

1 
3 
0 

Connecticut  

Delaware  

Florida  

Georgia  

Illinois  

21 
15 

1  ndiana  

1  o  wa  

11 
5 

12 

8 

8 

8 
15 

3 
9 
10 

7 
12 

8 

a 

5 

Kansas  

Louisiana  

Maine  

7 

Maryland  

13 
11 
5 

Michigan  

Mississippi  

Missouri  

Nebraska  

3 

Nevada  

New  Hampshire  

5 

New  York  

35 

North.  Carolina  

Ohio  

22 
3 
29 
4 

Pennsylvania  

5 

Virginia  

West  Virginia  

10 

Total  

214 

155 

214 

155 

369 

200       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

James  A.  Garfield  was  elected  President  and  Chester  A. 
Arthur  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows: 

Forty-seventh  Congress. 

Senate —  37   Democrats,    37  Republicans,   1  Independent, 

1  Readjuster Total,    76 

House— 130    Democrats,   152  Republicans,  9  Nationals,  2 

Readjustee "       293 

Forty-eighth  Congress. 

Senate —  36  Democrats,    40  Republicans Total,    76 

House — 200  Democrats,  119  Republicans,  4  Independents, 

2  Nationals "       325 


ELECTION  or  1884.  201 


Election  of  1884 


Democratic  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  WM.  H.  BAKNUM,  of  Connecticut. 
Secretary,  F.  0.  PKINCE,  of  Massachusetts. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  July  8-11,  1884. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  RICHARD  B.  HUBBARD, 

of  Texas. 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  F.  VILAS, 

of  Wisconsin. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Grover  Cleveland, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 

of  Indiana. 

At  this  convention  an  attempt  to  break  down  the  unit- 
rule  was  made  by  the  Tammany  opposition  to  Grover 
Cleveland,  but  it  met  with  defeat. 

Two  ballots  were  necessary  to  effect  the  nomination  of 
Grover  Cleveland,  of  New  York,  as  President.  The  follow- 
ing table  gives  the  ballots  in  detail : 


202       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES 

1st. 

2d. 

G  ROVER  CLEVELAND, 

392 

684 

THOMAS  F.  BAYARD, 

168 

81 

ALLEN  G.  THUBMAN. 
of  Ohio  

88 

4 

SAMUEL  J.  RANDALL, 

78 

4 

THOMAS  A.  HENDRICKS, 

1 

45 

JOSEPH  E.  MCDONALD, 

56 

1 

JOHN  G.  CARLISLE, 

27 

ROSWELL  P.  FLOWER, 
of  New  York  

4 

GEORGE  HOADLY, 
of  Ohio  

3 

SAMUEL  J.  TILDEN, 
of  New  York  

1 

For  Vice-President,  John  0.  Black,  of  Illinois;  William 
S.  Eosecrans,  of  California,  and  George  "W.  Glick,  of  Kansas, 
were  named  as  candidates,  but  were  all  withdrawn,  and 
Thomas  A.  Hendricks,  of  Indiana,  was  unanimously  chosen 
on  the  first  ballot. 

The  following  is  the  platform  as  adopted : — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

The  Democratic  party  of  the  Union,  through  its  representa- 
tives in  national  convention  assembled,  recognizes  that,  as  the 
nation  grows  older,  new  issues  are  born  of  time  and  progress, 
and  old  issues  perish.  But  the  fundamental  principles  of  the 
Democracy,  approved  by  the  united  voice  of  the  people,  remain 
and  will  ever  remain  as  the  best  and  only  security  for  the 
continuance  of  free  government.  The  preservation  of  personal 
rights;  the  equality  of  all  citizens  before  the  law;  the  reserved 
rights  of  the  states,  and  the  supremacy  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment within  the  limits  of  the  Constitution,  will  ever  form  the 
true  basis  of  our  liberties,  and  can  never  be  surrendered  with- 
out destroying  that  balance  of  rights  and  powers  which  enables 
a  continent  to  be  developed  in  peace,  and  social  order  to  be 
maintained  by  means  of  local  self-government.  But  it  is  in- 
dispensable for  the  practical  application  and  enforcement  of 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  203 

these  fundamental  principles,  that  the  government  should  not 
always  be  controlled  by  one  political  party.  Frequent  change 
of  administration  is  as  necessary  as  constant  recurrence  to 
the  popular  will.  Otherwise,  abuses  grow,  and  the  govern- 
ment, instead  of  being  carried  on  for  the  general  welfare,  be- 
comes an  instrumentality  for  imposing  heavy  burdens  on  the 
many  who  are  governed,  for  the  benefit  of  the  few  who  govern. 
Public  servants  thus  become  arbitrary  rulers.  This  is  now 
the  condition  of  the  country;  hence  a  change  is  demanded. 

The  Republican  party,  so  far  as  principle  is  concerned,  is  a 
reminiscence.  In  practice  it  is  an  organization  for  enriching 
those  who  control  its  machinery.  The  frauds  and  jobbery 
which  have  been  brought  to  light  in  every  department  of  the 
government  are  sufficient  to  have  called  for  reform  within  the 
Republican  party;  yet  those  in  authority,  made  reckless  by  the 
long  possession  of  power,  have  succumbed  to  its  corrupting  in- 
fluence and  have  placed  in  nomination  a  ticket  against  which 
the  independent  portion  of  the  party  are  in  open  revolt. 
Therefore,  a  change  is  demanded.  Such  a  change  was  alike 
necessary  in  1876,  but  the  will  of  the  people  was  then  defeated 
by  a  fraud  which  can  never  be  forgotten  nor  condoned.  Again, 
in  1880,  the  change  demanded  by  the  people  was  defeated  by 
the  lavish  use  of  money  contributed  by  unscrupulous  con- 
tractors and  shameless  jobbers,  who  had  bargained  for  unlaw- 
ful profits  or  high  office.  The  Republican  party,  during  its 
legal,  its  stolen,  and  its  bought  tenures  of  power,  has  steadily 
decayed  in  moral  character  and  political  capacity.  Its  plat- 
form-promises are  now  a  list  of  its  past  failures.  It  demands 
the  restoration  of  our  navy:  it  has  squandered  hundreds  of 
millions  to  create  a  navy  that  does  not  exist.  It  calls  upon 
Congress  to  remove  the  burdens  under  which  American  ship- 
ping has  been  depressed:  it  imposed  and  has  continued  those 
burdens.  It  professes  a  policy  of  reserving  the  public  lands 
for  small  holdings  by  actual  settlers:  it  has  given  away  the 
people's  heritage  till  now  a  few  railroads  and  non-resident 
aliens,  individual  and  corporate,  possess  a  larger  area  than 
that  of  all  our  farms  between  the  two  seas.  It  professes  a 
preference  for  free  institutions:  it  organized  and  tried  to  legal- 
ize a  control  of  state  elections  by  federal  troops.  It  professes 
a  desire  to  elevate  labor:  it  has  subjected  American  working- 
men  to  the  competition  of  convict  and  imported  contract  labor. 
It  professes  gratitude  to  all  who  were  disabled  or  died  in  the 
war,  leaving  widows  and  orphans:  it  left  to  a  Democratic 


204:       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

House  of  Representatives  the  first  effort  to  equalize  both 
bounties  and  pensions.  It  proffers  a  pledge  to  correct  the 
irregularities  of  our  tariff:  it  created  and  has  continued  them. 
Its  own  tariff  commission  confessed  the  needs  of  more  than 
twenty  per  cent,  reduction:  its  Congress  gave  a  reduction  of 
less  than  four  per  cent.  It  professes  the  protection  of  Ameri- 
can manufactures:  it  has  subjected  them  to  an  increasing 
flood  of  manufactured  goods  and  a  hopeless  competition  with 
manufacturing  nations,  not  one  of  which  taxes  raw  materials. 
It  professes  to  protect  all  American  industries:  it  has  im- 
poverished many,  to  subsidize  a  few.  It  professes  the  protec- 
tion of  American  labor:  it  has  depleted  the  returns  of  Ameri- 
can agriculture  and  industry,  followed  by  half  of  our  people. 
It  professes  the  equality  of  all  men  before  the  law,  attempting 
to  fix  the  status  of  colored  citizens:  the  acts  of  its  Congress 
were  overset  by  the  decisions  of  its  courts.  It  "  accepts  anew 
the  duty  of  leading  in  the  work  of  progress  and  reform  ":  its 
caught  criminals  are  permitted  to  escape  through  contrived 
delays  or  actual  connivance  in  the  prosecution.  Honeycombed 
with  corruption,  outbreaking  exposures  no  longer  shock  its 
moral  sense.  Its  honest  members,  its  independent  journals  no 
longer  maintain  a  successful  contest  for  authority  in  its  coun- 
cils or  a  veto  upon  bad  nominations.  That  change  is  neces- 
sary is  proved  by  an  existing  surplus  of  more  than  $100,000,000, 
which  has  yearly  been  collected  from  a  suffering  people. 
Unnecessary  taxation  is  unjust  taxation.  We  denounce  the 
Republican  party  for  having  failed  to  relieve  the  people  from 
crushing  war-taxes,  which  have  paralyzed  business,  crippled 
industry,  and  deprived  labor  of  employment  and  of  just  reward. 
The  Democracy  pledges  itself  to  purify  the  administration 
from  corruption,  to  restore  economy,  to  revive  respect  for  law, 
and  to  reduce  taxation  to  the  lowest  limit  consistent  with  due 
regard  to  the  preservation  of  the  faith  of  the  nation  to  its 
creditors  and  pensioners.  Knowing  full  well,  however,  that 
legislation  affecting  the  operations  of  the  people  should  be 
cautious  and  conservative  in  method,  not  in  advance  of  public 
opinion,  but  responsive  to  its  demands,  the  Democratic  party 
is  pledged  to  revise  the  tariff  in  a  spirit  of  fairness  to  all  in- 
terests. But,  in  making  reduction  in  taxes,  it  is  not  proposed 
to  injure  any  domestic  industries,  but  rather  to  promote  their 
healthy  growth.  From  the  foundation  of  this  government, 
taxes  collected  at  the  custom-house  have  been  the  chief  source 
of  federal  revenue.  Such  they  must  continue  to  be.  More- 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  205 

over,  many  industries  have  come  to  rely  upon  legislation  for 
successful  continuance,  so  that  any  change  of  law  must  be  at 
every  step  regardful  of  the  labor  and  capital  thus  involved. 
The  process  of  reform  must  be  subject  in  the  execution  to  this 
plain  dictate  of  justice:  all  taxation  shall  be  limited  to  the  re- 
quirements of  economical  government.  The  necessary  reduc- 
tion and  taxation  can  and  must  be  effected  without  depriving 
American  labor  of  the  ability  to  compete  successfully  with 
foreign  labor,  and  without  imposing  lower  rates  of  duty  than 
will  be  ample  to  cover  any  increased  cost  of  production  which 
may  exist  in  consequence  of  the  higher  rate  of  wages  prevail- 
ing in  this  country.  Sufficient  revenue  to  pay  all  the  expenses 
of  the  federal  government,  economically  administered,  includ- 
ing pensions,  interest  and  principal  of  the  public  debt,  can  be 
got  under  our  present  system  of  taxation  from  the  custom- 
house taxes  on  fewer  imported  articles,  bearing  heaviest  on 
articles  of  luxury  and  bearing  lightest  on  articles  of  necessity. 
We  therefore  denounce  the  abuses  of  the  existing  tariff,  and, 
subject  to  the  preceding  limitations,  we  demand  that  federal 
taxation  shall  be  exclusively  for  public  purposes,  and  shall  not 
exceed  the  needs  of  the  government,  economically  administered. 

The  system  of  direct  taxation  known  as  the  "  internal 
revenue  "  is  a  war-tax,  and,  so  long  as  the  law  continues,  the 
money  derived  therefrom  should  be  sacredly  devoted  to  the 
relief  of  the  people  from  the  remaining  burdens  of  the  war, 
and  be  made  a  fund  to  defray  the  expense  of  the  care  and 
comfort  of  worthy  soldiers  disabled  in  line  of  duty  in  the  wars 
of  the  republic,  and  for  the  payment  of  such  pensions  as 
Congress  may  from  time  to  time  grant  to  such  soldiers,  a  like 
fund  for  the  sailors  having  already  been  provided;  and  any 
surplus  should  be  paid  into  the  Treasury. 

We  favor  an  American  continental  policy  based  upon  more 
intimate  commercial  and  political  relations  with  the  fifteen 
sister  republics  of  North,  Central,  and  South  America,  but 
entangling  alliances  with  none. 

We  believe  in  honest  money,  the  gold  and  silver  coinage  of 
the  Constitution,  and  a  circulating  medium  convertible  into 
such  money  without  loss. 

Asserting  the  equality  of  all  men  before  the  law,  we  hold 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  in  its  dealings  with  the 
people  to  mete  out  equal  and  exact  justice  to  all  citizens,  of 
whatever  nativity,  race,  color,  or  persuasion,  religious  or 
political. 


206       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

We  believe  in  a  free  ballot  and  a  fair  count,  and  we  recall 
to  the  memory  of  the  people  the  noble  struggle  of  the  Demo* 
crats  in  the  Forty-fifth  and  Forty-sixth  Congresses,  by  which  a 
reluctant  Republican  opposition  was  compelled  to  assent  to 
legislation  making  everywhere  illegal  the  presence  of  troops 
at  the  polls,  as  the  conclusive  proof  that  a  Democratic  admin- 
istration will  preserve  liberty  with  order. 

The  selection  of  federal  officers  for  the  territories  should  be 
restricted  to  citizens  previously  resident  therein. 

We  oppose  sumptuary  laws,  which  vex  the  citizen  and  inter- 
fere with  individual  liberty. 

We  favor  honest  civil-service  reform  and  a  compensation  of 
all  United  States  officers  by  fixed  salaries;  the  separation  of 
church  and  state,  and  the  diffusion  of  free  education  by  com- 
mon schools,  so  that  every  child  in  the  land  may  be  taught 
the  rights  and  duties  of  citizenship. 

While  we  favor  all  legislation  which  will  tend  to  the  equit- 
able distribution  of  property,  to  the  prevention  of  monopoly, 
and  to  the  strict  enforcement  of  individual  rights  against  cor- 
porate abuses,  we  hold  that  the  welfare  of  society  depends 
upon  a  scrupulous  regard  for  the  right  of  property  as  defined 
by  law. 

We  believe  that  labor  is  best  rewarded  where  it  is  freest  and 
most  enlightened.  It  should  therefore  be  fostered  and  cher- 
ished. We  favor  the  repeal  of  all  laws  restricting  the  free 
action  of  labor,  and  the  enactment  of  laws  by  which  labor 
organizations  may  be  incorporated,  and  of  all  such  legislation 
as  will  tend  to  enlighten  the  people  as  to  the  true  relations  of 
capital  and  labor. 

We  believe  that  the  public  land  ought,  as  far  as  possible,  to 
be  kept  as  homesteads  for  actual  settlers;  that  all  unearned 
lands  heretofore  improvidently  granted  to  railroad  corpora- 
tions by  the  action  of  the  Republican  party  should  be  restored 
to  the  public  domain,  and  that  no  more  grants  of  land  shall 
be  made  to  corporations,  or  be  allowed  to  fall  into  the  owner- 
ship of  alien  absentees. 

We  are  opposed  to  all  propositions  which,  upon  any  pretext, 
v/ould  convert  the  general  government  into  a  machine  for 
collecting  taxes,  to  be  distributed  among  the  states,  or  the 
citizens  thereof. 

In  reaffirming  the  declaration  of  the  Democratic  platform  of 
1856,  that  the  liberal  principles  embodied  by  Jefferson  in  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  sanctioned  in  the  Constitu- 


ELECTION  or  1884  207 

tion,  which  makes  ours  the  land  of  liberty  and  the  asylum  of 
the  oppressed  of  every  nation,  have  ever  been  cardinal  prin- 
ciples in  the  Democratic  faith,  we  nevertheless  do  not  sanction 
the  importation  of  foreign  labor  or  the  admission  of  servile 
races,  unfitted  by  habits,  training,  religion,  or  kindred,  for 
absorption  into  the  great  body  of  our  people,  or  for  the  citizen- 
ship which  our  laws  confer.  American  civilization  demands 
that  against  the  immigration  or  importation  of  Mongolians  to 
these  shores  our  gates  be  closed. 

The  Democratic  party  insists  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  protect  with  equal  fidelity  and  vigilance  the  rights 
of  its  citizens,  native  and  naturalized,  at  home  and  abroad, 
and  to  the  end  that  this  protection  may  be  assured,  United 
States  papers  of  naturalization,  issued  by  courts  of  competent 
jurisdiction,  must  be  respected  by  the  executive  and  legislative 
departments  of  our  own  government  and  by  all  foreign  powers. 
It  is  an  imperative  duty  of  this  government  to  efficiently  pro- 
tect all  the  rights  of  persons  and  property  of  every  American 
citizen  in  foreign  lands,  and  demand  and  enforce  full  repara- 
tion for  any  invasion  thereof.  An  American  citizen  is  only 
responsible  to  his  own  government  for  any  act  done  in  his  own 
country  or  under  her  flag,  and  can  only  be  tried  therefor  on 
her  own  soil  and  according  to  her  laws;  and  no  power  exists 
in  this  government  to  expatriate  an  American  citizen  to  be 
tried  in  any  foreign  land  for  any  such  act. 

This  country  has  never  had  a  well-defined  and  executed 
foreign  policy,  save  under  Democratic  administration.  That 
policy  has  ever  been  in  regard  to  foreign  nations,  so  long  as 
they  do  not  act  detrimental  to  the  interests  of  the  country 
or  hurtful  to  our  citizens,  to  let  them  alone;  that  as  a  result 
of  this  policy  we  recall  the  acquisition  of  Louisiana,  Florida, 
California,  and  of  the  adjacent  Mexican  territory,  by  purchase 
alone,  and  contrast  these  grand  acquisitions  of  Democratic 
statesmanship  with  the  purchase  of  Alaska,  the  sole  fruit  of  a 
Republican  administration  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

The  federal  government  should  care  for  and  improve  the 
Mississippi  River  and  other  great  waterways  of  the  republic,  so 
as  to  secure  for  the  interior  states  easy  and  cheap  transporta- 
tion to  tide-water. 

Under  a  long  period  of  Democratic  rule  and  policy  our  mer- 
chant marine  was  fast  overtaking,  and  on  the  point  of  out- 
stripping, that  of  Great  Britain.  Under  twenty  years  of  Re- 
publican rule  and  policy  our  commerce  has  been  left  to  British 


208       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

bottoms,  and  the  American  flag  has  almost  been  swept  off  the 
high  seas.  Instead  of  the  Republican  party's  British  policy,  we 
demand  for  the  people  of  the  United  States  an  American  policy. 
Under  Democratic  rule  and  policy  our  merchants  and  sailors, 
flying  the  Stars  and  Stripes  in  every  port,  successfully  searched 
out  a  market  for  the  varied  products  of  American  industry: 
under  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  Republican  rule  and  policy — 
despite  our  manifest  advantage  over  all  other  nations  in  high- 
paid  labor,  favorable  climate,  and  teeming  soils;  despite  free- 
dom of  trade  among  all  these  United  States;  despite  their 
population  by  the  foremost  races  of  men,  and  an  annual  immi- 
gration of  the  young,  thrifty,  and  adventurous  of  all  nations; 
despite  our  freedom  here  from  the  inherited  burdens  of  life 
and  industry  in  the  Old  World  monarchies,  their  costly  war 
navies,  their  vast  tax-consuming,  non-producing  standing 
armies;  despite  twenty  years  of  peace — that  Republican  rule 
and  policy  have  managed  to  surrender  to  Great  Britain,  along 
with  our  commerce,  the  control  of  the  markets  of  the  world. 
Instead  of  the  Republican  party's  British  policy,  we  demand, 
in  behalf  of  the  American  Democracy,  an  American  policy. 
Instead  of  the  Republican  party's  discredited  scheme  and  false 
pretense  of  friendship  for  American  labor,  expressed  by  im- 
posing taxes,  we  demand,  in  behalf  of  the  Democracy,  freedom 
for  American  labor,  by  reducing  taxes,  to  the  end  that  these 
United  States  may  compete  with  unhindered  powers  for  the 
primacy  among  nations  in  all  the  arts  of  peace  and  fruits  of 
liberty. 

With  profound  regret,  we  have  been  apprised  by  the  vener- 
able statesman  through  whose  person  was  struck  that  blow  at 
the  vital  principle  of  republics — acquiescence  in  the  will  of  the 
majority — that  he  cannot  permit  us  again  to  place  in  his  hands 
the  leadership  of  the  Democratic  hosts,  for  the  reason  that  the 
achievement  of  reform  in  the  administration  of  the  federal 
government  is  an  undertaking  now  too  heavy  for  his  age  and 
failing  strength.  Rejoicing  that  his  life  has  been  prolonged 
until  the  general  judgment  of  our  fellow-countrymen  is  united 
in  the  wish  that  that  wrong  were  righted  in  his  person,  for  the 
Democracy  of  the  United  States  we  offer  to  him,  in  his  with- 
drawal from  public  cares,  not  only  our  respectful  sympathy 
and  esteem,  but  also  that  best  homage  of  freemen — the  pledge 
of  our  devotion  to  the  principles  and  the  cause  now  insepara- 
ble in  the  history  of  this  republic  from  the  labors  and  the 
name  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden. 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  209 

With  this  statement  of  the  hopes,  principles,  and  purposes 
of  the  Democratic  party,  the  great  issue  of  reform  and  change 
in  administration  is  submitted  to  the  people,  in  calm  confidence 
that  the  popular  voice  will  pronounce  in  favor  of  new  men  and 
new  and  more  favorable  conditions  for  the  growth  of  industry, 
the  extension  of  trade,  the  employment  and  due  reward  of 
labor  and  of  capital,  and  the  general  welfare  of  the  whole 
country, 


Republican  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  B.  F.  JONES,  of  Pennsylvania. 
Secretary,  SAMUEL  FESSENDEN,  of  Connecticut. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  3-6,  1884. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  R.  LYNCH, 

of  Mississippi. 

Chairman,  JOHN  B.  HENDERSON, 

of  Missouri. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  James  G.  Elaine, 

of  Maine. 

For  Vice-President,  John  A.  Logan, 

of  Illinois. 

When  the  convention  met  there  was  a  contest  for  the 
temporary  chairmanship,  which  resulted  in  the  selection  of 
John  K.  Lynch,  of  Mississippi,  a  distinguished  colored  man, 
by  431  votes,  against  387  given  for  Powell  Clayton,  of 
Arkansas.  At  this  convention  an  important  rule  was 
adopted,  excluding  all  office-holders  as  members  of  the 


210       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


national  committee,  and  for  allowing  more  freedom  in  the 
selection  of  delegates  to  future  conventions.  As  a  can- 
didate for  President,  James  G.  Elaine,  of  Maine,  was 
nominated  on  the  fourth  ballot,  as  follows: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

JAMES  G.  ELAINE, 

334  % 

349 

375 

541 

CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR, 
of  New  York  

278 

276 

274 

207 

GEORGE  F.  EDMUNDS, 

93 

85 

09 

41 

JOHN  A.  LOGAN, 
of  111  inois  

63% 

61 

53 

7 

JOHN  SHERMAN, 
of  Ohio  

30 

28 

25 

JOSEPH  tt.  HAWLEY, 

13 

13 

13 

15 

ROBERT  T.  LINCOLN, 
of  Illinois  

4 

4 

8 

2 

WILLIAM  T.  SHERMAN, 
of  Missouri  

2 

2 

o 

Mr.  Elaine's  nomination  was  afterward  made  unanimous. 

For  Vice-President,  John  A.  Logan,  of  Illinois,  was 
nominated  by  779  votes;  Lucius  Fairchild,  of  Wisconsin, 
received  7,  and  Walter  Q.  Gresham,  of  Indiana,  6. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  Republicans  of  the  United  States,  in  national  convention 
assembled,  renew  their  allegiance  to  the  principles  upon  which 
they  have  triumphed  in  six  successive  Presidential  elections, 
and  congratulate  the  American  people  on  the  attainment  of  so 
many  results  in  legislation  and  administration,  by  which  the 
Republican  party  has,  after  saving  the  Union,  done  so  much 
to  render  its  institutions  just,  equal,  and  beneficent,  the  safe- 
guard of  liberty  and  the  embodiment  of  the  best  thought  and 
highest  purpose  of  our  citizens. 

The  Republican  party  has  gained  its  strength  by  quick  and 
faithful  response  to  the  demands  of  the  people  for  the  freedom 
and  equality  of  all  men;  for  a  united  nation,  assuring  the 
rights  of  all  citizens;  for  the  elevation  of  labor;  for  an  honest 
currency;  for  purity  in  legislation,  and  for  integrity  and  ac- 


ELECTION  OP  1884.  211 

countability  in  all  departments  of  the  government,  and  it 
accepts  anew  the  duty  of  leading  in  the  work  of  progress  and 
reform. 

We  lament  the  death  of  President  Garfield,  whose  sound 
statesmanship,  long  conspicuous  in  Congress,  gave  promise  of 
a  strong  and  successful  administration — a  promise  fully  real- 
ized during  the  short  period  of  his  office  as  President  of  the 
United  States.  His  distinguished  services  in  war  and  peace 
have  endeared  him  to  the  hearts  of  the  American  people. 

In  the  administration  of  President  Arthur  we  recognize  a 
wise,  conservative,  and  patriotic  policy,  under  which  the 
country  has  been  blessed  with  remarkable  prosperity,  and  we 
believe  his  eminent  services  are  entitled  to  and  will  receive 
the  hearty  approval  of  every  citizen. 

It  is  the  first  duty  of  a  good  government  to  protect  the  rights 
and  promote  the  interests  of  its  own  people. 

The  largest  diversity  of  industry  is  most  productive  of  gen- 
eral prosperity,  and  of  the  comfort  and  independence  of  the 
people. 

We  therefore  demand  that  the  imposition  of  duties  on  for- 
eign imports  shall  be  made,  not  "  for  revenue  only,"  but  that 
in  raising  the  requisite  revenues  for  the  government  such 
duties  shall  be  so  levied  as  to  afford  security  to  our  diversified 
industries  and  protection  to  the  rights  and  wages  of  the  labor- 
er, to  the  end  that  active  and  intelligent  labor,  as  well  as 
capital,  may  have  its  just  reward,  and  the  laboring  man  his 
full  share  in  the  national  prosperity. 

Against  the  so-called  economic  system  of  the  Democratic 
party,  which  would  degrade  our  labor  to  the  foreign  standard, 
we  enter  our  earnest  protest. 

The  Democratic  party  has  failed  completely  to  relieve  the 
people  of  the  burden'  of  unnecessary  taxation,  by  a  wise  reduc- 
tion of  the  surplus. 

The  Republican  party  pledges  itself  to  correct  the  inequali- 
ties of  the  tariff  and  to  reduce  the  surplus,  not  by  the  vicious 
and  indiscriminate  process  of  horizontal  reduction,  but  by 
such  methods  as  will  relieve  the  tax-payer  without  injuring 
the  laborer  or  the  great  productive  interests  of  the  country. 

We  recognize  the  importance  of  sheep-husbandry  in  the 
United  States,  the  serious  depression  which  it  is  now  experi- 
encing, and  the  danger  threatening  its  future  prosperity;  and 
we  therefore  respect  the  demands  of  the  representatives  of 
this  important  agricultural  interest  for  a  readjustment  of 


212       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

duties  upon  foreign  wool,  in  order  that  such  industry  shall 
have  full  and  adequate  protection. 

We  have  always  recommended  the  best  money  known  to  the 
civilized  world;  and  we  urge  that  efforts  should  be  made  to 
unite  all  commercial  nations  in  the  establishment  of  an  inter- 
national standard,  which  shall  fix  for  all  the  relative  value 
of  gold  and  silver  coinage. 

The  regulation  of  commerce  with  foreign  nations  and  be- 
tween the  states  is  one  of  the  most  important  prerogatives  of 
the  general  government;  and  the  Republican  party  distinctly 
announces  its  purpose  to  support  such  legislation  as  will  fully 
and  efficiently  carry  out  the  constitutional  power  of  Congress 
over  interstate  commerce. 

The  principle  of  public  regulation  of  railway  corporations  is 
a  wise  and  salutary  one  for  the  protection  of  all  classes  of  the 
people;  and  we  favor  legislation  that  shall  prevent  unjust  dis- 
crimination and  excessive  charges  for  transportation,  and  that 
shall  secure  to  the  people  and  the  railways  alike  the  fair  and 
equal  protection  of  the  laws. 

We  favor  the  establishment  of  a  national  bureau  of  labor; 
the  enforcement  of  the  eight-hour  law;  a  wise  and  judicious 
system  of  general  legislation  by  adequate  appropriation  from 
the  national  revenues,  wherever  the  same  is  needed.  We  be- 
lieve that  everywhere  the  protection  to  a  citizen  of  American 
birth  must  be  secured  to  citizens  by  American  adoption;  and 
we  favor  the  settlement  of  national  differences  by  inter- 
national arbitration. 

The  Republican  party,  having  its  birth  in  a  hatred  of  slave 
labor  and  a  desire  that  all  men  may  be  truly  free  and  equal,  is 
unalterably  opposed  to  placing  our  workingmen  in  competition 
with  any  form  of  servile  labor,  whether  at  home  or  abroad.  In 
this  spirit  we  denounce  the  importation  of  contract  labor, 
whether  from  Europe  or  Asia,  as  an  offense  against  the  spirit 
of  American  institutions;  and  we  pledge  ourselves  to  sustain 
the  present  law  restricting  Chinese  immigration,  and  to  pro- 
vide such  further  legislation  as  is  necessary  to  carry  out  its 
purposes. 

Reform  of  the  civil  service,  auspiciously  begun  under  Repub- 
lican administration,  should  be  completed  by  the  further  ex- 
tension of  the  reform  system,  already  established  by  law,  to  all 
the  grades  of  the  service  to  which  it  is  applicable.  The  spirit 
and  purpose  of  the  reform  should  be  observed  in  all  executive 
appointments,  and  all  laws  at  variance  with  the  objects  of 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  213 

existing  reform  legislation  should  be  repealed,  to  the  end  that 
the  dangers  to  free  institutions  which  lurk  in  the  power  of 
official  patronage  may  be  wisely  and  effectively  avoided. 

The  public  lands  are  a  heritage  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  and  should  be  reserved  as  far  as  possible  for  small 
holdings  by  actual  settlers.  We  are  opposed  to  the  acquisition 
of  large  tracts  of  these  lands  by  corporations  or  individuals, 
especially  where  such  holdings  are  in  the  hands  of  non-resi- 
dents or  aliens,  and  we  will  endeavor  to  obtain  such  legislation 
as  will  tend  to  correct  this  evil.  We  demand  of  Congress  the 
speedy  forfeiture  of  all  land-grants  which  have  lapsed  by 
reason  of  non-compliance  with  acts  of  incorporation,  in  all 
cases  where  there  has  been  no  attempt  in  good  faith  to  per- 
form the  conditions  of  such  grants. 

The  grateful  thanks  of  the  American  people  are  due  to  the 
Union  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  late  war;  and  the  Republican 
party  stands  pledged  to  suitable  pensions  for  all  who  were  dis- 
abled, and  for  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  died  in 
the  war.  The  Republican  party  also  pledges  itself  to  the  repeal 
of  the  limitations  contained  in  the  Arrears  Act  of  1879,  so  that 
all  invalid  soldiers  shall  share  alike,  and  their  pensions  begin 
with  the  date  of  disability  or  discharge,  and  not  with  the  date 
of  application. 

The  Republican  party  favors  a  policy  which  shall  keep  us 
from  entangling  alliances  with  foreign  nations,  and  which 
gives  us  the  right  to  expect  that  foreign  nations  shall  refrain 
from  meddling  in  American  affairs — a  policy  which  seeks 
peace  and  trade  with  all  powers,  but  especially  with  those  of 
the  Western  Hemisphere. 

We  demand  the  restoration  of  our  navy  to  its  old-time 
strength  and  efficiency,  that  it  may  in  any  sea  protect  the 
rights  of  American  citizens  and  the  interests  of  American 
commerce;  and  we  call  upon  Congress  to  remove  the  burdens 
under  which  American  shipping  has  been  depressed,  so  that  it 
may  again  be  true  that  we  have  a  commerce  which  leaves  no 
sea  unexplored,  and  a  navy  which  takes  no  law  from  superior 
force. 

Resolved,  That  appointments  by  the  President  to  offices  in 
the  territories  should  be  made  from  the  bona  fldc  citizens  and 
residents  of  the  territories  wherein  they  are  to  serve. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  Congress  to  enact  such  laws 
as  shall  promptly  and  effectually  suppress  the  system  of  polyg- 
amy within  our  territories,  and  divorce  the  political  from  the 


214       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

ecclesiastical  power  of  the  so-called  Mormon  Church;  and  that 
the  laws  so  enacted  should  be  rigidly  enforced  by  the  civil 
authorities,  if  possible,  and  by  the  military,  if  need  be. 

The  people  of  the  United  States,  in  their  organized  capacity, 
constitute  a  nation,  and  not  an  American  federacy  of  states. 
The  national  government  is  supreme  within  the  sphere  of  its 
national  duties;  but  the  states  have  reserved  rights  which 
should  be  faithfully  maintained.  Each  should  be  guarded 
with  jealous  care,  so  that  the  harmony  of  our  system  of  gov- 
ernment may  be  preserved  and  the  Union  kept  inviolate. 
!  The  perpetuity  of  our  institutions  rests  upon  the  mainte- 
nance of  a  free  ballot,  an  honest  count,  and  correct  returns. 
We  denounce  the  fraud  and  violence  practised  by  the  Democ- 
racy in  Southern  States,  by  which  the  will  of  a  voter  is  de- 
feated, as  dangerous  to  the  preservation  of  free  institutions; 
and  we  solemnly  arraign  the  Democratic  party  as  being  the 
guilty  recipient  of  the  fruits  of  such  fraud  and  violence. 

We  extend  to  the  Republicans  of  the  South,  regardless  of 
their  former  party  affiliations,  our  cordial  sympathy,  and 
pledge  to  them  our  most  earnest  efforts  to  promote  the  passage 
of  such  legislation  as  will  secure  to  every  citizen,  of  whatever 
race  and  color,  the  full  and  complete  recognition,  possession, 
and  exercise  of  all  civil  and  political  rights. 


GREENBACK  NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  May  28-29,  1884. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  TYLER, 

of  Florida. 

Chairman,  JAMES  B.  WEAVER, 

of  Iowa. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Benjamin  F.  Butler, 

of  Massachusetts. 

For  Vice-President,  Alanson  M.  West, 

of  Mississippi. 

Gen.  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  was  nomi- 
nated for  President  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  322  votes 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  215 

out  of  a  total  of  425.  Jesse  Harper,  of  Illinois ;  Solon 
Chase. of  Maine;  Edward  P.  Allis,  of  "Wisconsin, and  David 
Davis,  of  Illinois,  were  also  voted  for. 

For  Vice-President,  Gen.  Alanson  M.  West,  of  Missis- 
sippi, was  nominated  by  acclamation. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

GREENBACK  PLATFORM. 

1.  That  we  hold  the  late  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  on 
the  legal-tender  question  to  be  a  full  vindication  of  the  theory 
which  our  party  has  always  advocated  on  the  right  and  au- 
thority of  Congress  over  the  issue  of  legal-tender  notes,  and 
we  hereby  pledge  ourselves  to  uphold  said  decision,  and  to 
defend   the  Constitution   against  alterations   or   amendments 
intended  to  deprive  the  people  of  any  rights  or  privileges  con- 
ferred  by   that   instrument.    We   demand   the   issue   of   such 
money  in  sufficient  quantities  to  supply  the  actual  demands  of 
trade  and  commerce,  in  accordance  with  the  increase  of  popu- 
lation and  the  development  of  our  industries.    We   demand 
the  substitution  of  greenbacks  for  national-bank  notes,  and 
the  prompt  payment  of  the  public  debt.    We  want  that  money 
which  saved  our  country  in  time  of  war  and  which  has  given 
it  prosperity  and  happiness  in  peace.    We  condemn  the  retire- 
ment of  the  fractional  currency  and  the  small  denominations 
of  greenbacks,  and  demand  their  restoration.    We  demand  the 
issue  of  the  hoards  of  money  now  locked  up  in  the  United 
States  Treasury,  by  applying  them  to  the  payment  of  the  public 
debt  now  due. 

2.  We  denounce  as  dangerous  to  our  republican  institutions, 
those  methods  and  policies  of  the  Democratic  and  Republican 
parties  which  have  sanctioned  or  permitted  the  establishment 
of  land, railroad,  money,  and  other  gigantic  monopolies;   and 
we  demand  such  governmental  action  as  may  be  necessary  to 
take  from  such  monopolies  the  power  they  have  so  corruptly 
and  unjustly  usurped,  and  restore  them  to  the  people,  to  whom 
they  belong. 

3.  The   public  lands   being  the  natural   inheritance   of  the 
people,  we  denounce  that  policy  which  has  granted  to  corpora- 
tions vast  tracts  of  land,  and  we  demand  that  immediate  and 
vigorous  measures  be  taken  to  reclaim  from  such  corporations, 
for  the  people's  use  and  benefit,  all  such  land-grants  as  have 


216        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

been  forfeited  by  reason  of  non-fulfilment  of  contract,  or  that 
may  have  been  wrongfully  acquired  by  corrupt  legislation,  and 
that  such  reclaimed  lands  and  other  public  domain  be  hence- 
forth held  as  a  sacred  trust,  to  be  granted  only  to  actual  set- 
tlers in  limited  quantities;  and  we  also  demand  that  the  alien 
ownership  of  land,  individual  or  corporate,  shall  be  prohibited. 

4.  We  demand  Congressional  regulations  of  interstate  com- 
merce, we  denounce  "  pooling,"  stock-watering,  and  discrimi- 
nation in  rates  and  charges,  and  demand  that  Congress  shall 
correct  these  abuses,  even,  if  necessary,  by  the  construction  of 
national  railroads.    We  also  demand  the  establishment  of  a 
government  postal-telegraph  system. 

5.  All  private  property,  all  forms  of  money  and  obligations 
to  pay  money,  should  bear  their  just  proportion  of  the  taxes. 
We  demand  a  graduated  income-tax. 

6.  We  demand  the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  labor  by 
enforcing  the  sanitary  laws  in  industrial  establishments,  by 
the  abolition  of  the  convict  labor  system,  by  a  rigid  inspection 
of  mines  and  factories,  by  a  reduction  of  the  hours  of  labor  in 
industrial  establishments,  by  fostering  educational  institutions, 
and  by  abolishing  child  labor. 

7.  We  condemn   all   importations   of  contract  labor,    made 
with  a  view  of  reducing  to  starvation  wages  the  workingmen 
of  this  country,  and  demand  laws  for  its  prevention. 

8.  We  insist  upon  a  constitutional  amendment  reducing  the 
terms  of  United  States  Senators. 

9.  We  demand  such  rules  for  the  government  of  Congress  as 
shall  place  all  representatives   of  the  people  upon  an  equal 
footing,  and  take  away  from  committees  a  veto-power  greater 
than  that  of  the  President 

10.  The  question  as  to  the  amount  of  duties  to  be  levied 
upon  various  articles  of  import  has  been  agitated  and  quar- 
reled over,  and  has  divided  communities  for  nearly  a  hundred 
years.    It  is  not  now  and  never  will  be  settled  unless  by  the 
abolition  of  indirect  taxation.    It  is  a  convenient  issue — always 
raised  when  the  people  are  excited  over  abuses  in  their  midst. 
While  we  favor  a  wise  revision  of  the  tariff  laws,  with  a  view 
to  raising  a  revenue  from  the  luxuries  rather  than  necessaries, 
we  insist  that  as  an  economic  question  its  importance  is  insig- 
nificant as  compared  with  financial  issues;   for,  whereas  we 
have   suffered   our  worst  panics   under  low  and   also   under 
high  tariff,  we  have  never  suffered  from  a  panic  or  seen  our 
factories  or  workshops  closed  while  the  volume  of  money  in 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  217 

circulation  was  adequate  to  the  needs  of  commerce.  Give  our 
farmers  and  manufacturers  money  as  cheap  as  you  now  give  it 
to  our  bankers,  and  they  can  pay  high  wages  to  labor  and 
compete  with  all  the  world. 

11.  For  the  purpose  of  testing  the  sense  of  the  people  upon 
the  subject,  we  are  in  favor  of  submitting  to  the  people  an 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  in  favor  of  suffrage,  regardless 
of  sex,  and  also  on  the  subject  of  the  liquor-traffic. 

12.  All  disabled  soldiers  of  the  late  war  should  be  equitably 
pensioned,  and  we  denounce  the  policy  of  keeping  a   small 
army  of  office-holders,  whose  only  business  is  to  prevent,  on 
technical  grounds,  deserving  soldiers  from  obtaining  justice 
from  the  government  they  helped  to  save. 

13.  As  our  name  indicates,  we  are  a  National  Party,  know- 
ing no  East,  no  West,  no  North,  no  South.    Having  no  sec- 
tional prejudices,  we  can  properly  place  in  nomination  for  the 
high  offices  of  state,  as  candidates,  men  from  any  section  of 
the  Union. 

14.  We  appeal  to  all  people  who  believe  in  our  principles,  to 
aid  us  by  voice,  pen,  and  votes. 


AMERICAN  PROHIBITION  NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  19,  1884. 
Chairman,  J.  L.  BARLOW, 

of  Connecticut. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Samuel  C.  Pomeroy, 

of  Kansas. 

For  Vice-President,  John  A.  Conant, 

of  Connecticut. 

This  was  not  a  representative  body,  but  rather  a  mass 
convention  of  the  whole  party.  They  made  the  above- 
mentioned  nominations  anfl  "''opted  the  following  plat- 
form : — 


218       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

AMERICAN  PROHIBITION  NATIONAL  PLATFORM. 

We  hold: 

1.  That  ours  is  a  Christian,  and  not  a  heathen  nation,  and 
that  the  God  of  the  Christian  Scriptures  is  the  author  of  civil 
government. 

2.  That  the  Bible  should  be  associated  with  books  of  science 
and  literature  in  all  our  educational  institutions. 

3.  That  God  requires  and  man  needs  a  Sabbath. 

4.  That  we  demand  the  prohibition  of  the  importation,  man- 
ufacture, and  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks. 

5.  That  the  charters  of  all  secret  lodges  granted  by  our  fed- 
eral and   state   legislatures   should   be   withdrawn   and   their 
oaths  prohibited  by  law. 

6.  We  are  opposed  to  putting  prison  labor,  or  depreciated 
contract  labor  from   foreign   countries,   in   competition   with 
free  labor,  to  benefit  manufacturers,  corporations,  and  specu- 
lators. 

7.  We  are  in  favor  of  a  thorough  revision  and  enforcement 
of  the  law  concerning  patents  and  inventions,  for  the  preven- 
tion and  punishment  of  frauds  either  upon  inventors  or  the 
general  public. 

8.  We  hold  to  and  will  vote  for  woman  suffrage. 

9.  We  hold  that  the  civil  equality  secured  to  all  American 
citizens  by  Articles  13,  14,  and  15   of  our  amended  national 
Constitution    should    be    preserved    inviolate,    and    the    same 
equality  should  be  extended  to  Indians  and  Chinamen. 

10.  That  international  differences  should  be  settled  by  arbi- 
tration. 

11.  That  land  and  other  monopolies  should  be  discouraged. 

12.  That  the  general  government  should  furnish  the  people 
with  an  ample  and  sound  currency. 

13.  That  it  should  be  the  settled  policy  of  the  government 
to  reduce  the  tariffs  and  taxes  as  rapidly  as  the  necessities  of 
revenue  and  vested  business  interests  will  allow. 

14.  That   polygamy   should   be   immediately   suppressed    by 
law,  and  that  the  Republican  party  is  censurable  for  its  long 
neglect  of  its  duty  in  respect  to  this  evil. 

15.  And,   finally,  we  demand  for  the  American  people  the 
abolition  of  electoral  colleges,  and  a  direct  vote  for  President 
and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States. 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  219 

NATIONAL  PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  July  23,  1884. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  WILLIAM  DANIEL, 

of  Maryland. 

Chairman,  SAMUEL  DICKIE, 

of  Michigan. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  John  P.  St.  John, 

of  Kansas. 

For  Vice-President,  William  Daniel, 

of  Maryland. 

The  convention  adopted  a  platform  and  unanimously 
nominated  the  candidates  above  mentioned.  The  following 
is  the  platform  as  adopted : — 

NATIONAL  PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

The  Prohibition  Home  Protection  party,  in  national  conven- 
tion assembled,  acknowledge  Almighty  God  as  the  rightful 
Sovereign  of  all  men,  from  Whom  the  first  powers  of  govern- 
ment are  derived,  and  to  Whose  laws  human  enactments  should 
conform;  and  that  peace,  prosperity,  and  happiness  only  can 
come  to  the  people  when  the  laws  of  their  national  and  state 
governments  are  in  accord  with  the  Divine  Will. 

That  the  importation,  manufacture,  supply,  and  sale  of 
alcoholic  beverages,  created  and  maintained  by  the  laws  of 
the  national  and  state  governments,  during  the  entire  history 
of  such  laws  is  everywhere  shown  to  be  the  promoting  cause 
of  intemperance,  with  resulting  crime  and  pauperism;  making 
large  demands  upon  public  and  private  charity;  imposing  large 
and  unjust  taxation  and  public  burdens  for  penal  and  shelter- 
ing institutions  upon  thrift,  industry,  manufactures,  and  com- 
merce; endangering  the  public  peace;  causing  desecration  of 
the  Sabbath;  corrupting  our  politics,  legislation,  and  adminis- 
tration of  the  laws;  shortening  lives,  impairing  health,  and 
diminishing  productive  industry;  causing  education  to  be 


220       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

neglected  and  despised;  nullifying  the  teachings  of  the  Bible, 
the  church,  and  the  school,  the  standards  and  guides  of  our 
fathers  and  their  children  in  the  founding  and  growth,  under 
God,  of  our  widely  extended  country;  and  while  imperilling 
the  perpetuity  of  our  civil  and  religious  liberty,  are  baleful 
fruits  by  which  we  know  that  these  laws  are  alike  contrary  to 
God's  laws  and  contravene  our  happiness;  and  we  call  upon 
our  fellow  citizens  to  aid  in  the  repeal  of  these  laws  and  in 
the  legal  suppression  of  this  baneful  liquor-traffic. 

The  fact  that  during  the  twenty-four  years  in  which  the 
Republican  party  has  controlled  the  general  government  and 
that  of  many  of  the  states,  no  effort  has  been  made  to  change 
this  policy;  that  territories  have  been  created  from  the  na- 
tional domain  and  governments  for  them  established,  and 
states  from  them  admitted  into  the  Union,  in  no  instance  in 
either  of  which  has  this  traffic  been  forbidden,  or  the  people 
of  these  territories  or  states  been  permitted  to  prohibit  it; 
that  there  are  now  over  two  hundred  thousand  distilleries, 
breweries,  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  these  drinks,  hold- 
ing certificates  and  claiming  the  authority  of  government  for 
the  continuation  of  a  business  which  is  so  destructive  to  the 
moral  and  material  welfare  of  the  people;  together  with  the 
fact  that  they  have  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  remonstrance  and 
petition  for  the  correction  of  this  abuse  of  civil  government, — 
is  conclusive  that  the  Republican  party  is  insensible  to  or 
impotent  for  the  redress  of  those  wrongs,  and  should  no 
longer  be  intrusted  with  the  powers  and  responsibilities  of 
government;  that,  although  this  party  in  its  late  national 
convention  was  silent  on  the  liquor  question,  not  so  its  can- 
didates, Messrs.  Elaine  and  Logan.  Within  the  year  past  Mr. 
Elaine  has  publicly  recommended  that  the  revenues  derived 
from  the  liquor-traffic  shall  be  distributed  among  the  states, 
and  Senator  Logan  has  by  a  bill  proposed  to  devote  these  reve- 
nues to  the  support  of  the  schools.  Thus  both  virtually  recom- 
mend the  perpetuation  of  the  traffic,  and  that  the  state  and  its 
citizens  shall  become  partners  in  the  liquor  crime. 

The  fact  that  the  Democratic  party  has  in  its  national  deliv- 
erance of  party  policy  arrayed  itself  on  the  side  of  the  drink- 
makers  and  sellers,  by  declaring  against  the  policy  of  prohibi- 
tion of  such  traffic  under  the  false  name  of  "  Sumptuary 
Laws,"  and,  when  in  power  in  some  of  the  states,  in  refusing 
remedial  legislation,  and  in  Congress  of  refusing  to  permit 
the  creation  of  a  board  of  inquiry  to  investigate  and  report 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  221 

upon  the  effects  of  this  traffic,  proves  that  the  Democratic 
party  should  not  be  intrusted  with  power  or  place. 

That  there  can  be  no  greater  peril  to  the  nation  than  the 
existing  competition  of  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties 
for  the  liquor  vote,  experience  shows  that  any  party  not 
openly  opposed  to  the  traffic  will  engage  in  this  competition, 
will  court  the  favor  of  the  criminal  classes,  will  barter  away 
the  public  morals,  the  purity  of  the  ballot,  and  every  trust  and 
object  of  good  government  for  party  success;  and  patriots 
and  good  citizens  should  find  in  this  practice  sufficient 
cause  for  immediate  withdrawal  from  all  connection  with  their 
party. 

That  we  favor  reforms  in  the  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment; in  the  abolition  of  all  sinecures,  useless  offices  and 
officers;  in  the  election  of  the  post-office  officials  of  the  govern- 
ment, instead  of  appointment  by  the  President;  that  com- 
petency, honesty,  and  sobriety  are  essential  qualifications  for 
holding  civil  office;  and  we  oppose  the  removal  of  such  persons 
from  mere  administrative  offices,  except  so  far  as  it  may  be 
absolutely  necessary  to  secure  effectiveness  to  the  vital  issues 
on  which  the  general  administration  of  the  government  has 
been  intrusted  to  a  party;  that  the  collection  of  revenues 
from  alcohol,  liquors,  and  tobacco  should  be  abolished,  as  the 
vices  of  men  are  not  a  proper  subject  for  taxation;  that  reve- 
nues for  customs  duties  should  be  levied  for  the  support  of 
the  government,  economically  administered;  and,  when  so 
levied,  the  fostering  of  American  labor,  manufactures,  and 
industries  should  constantly  be  held  in  view;  that  the  public 
land  should  be  held  for  homes  for  the  people,  and  not  for  gifts 
to  corporations,  or  to  be  held  in  large  bodies  for  speculation 
upon  the  needs  of  actual  settlers. 

That  all  money,  coin,  and  paper,  shall  be  made,  issued,  and 
regulated  by  the  general  government,  and  shall  be  a  legal 
tender  for  all  debts,  public  and  private. 

That  grateful  care  and  support  should  be  given  to  our 
soldiers  and  sailors,  their  dependent  widows  and  orphans,  dis- 
abled in  the  service  of  the  country. 

That  we  repudiate  as  un-American,  contrary  to  and  subver- 
sive of  the  principles  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  from 
which  our  government  has  grown  to  be  the  government  of 
fifty-five  millions  of  people,  and  a  recognized  power  among 
the  nations,  that  any  person  or  people  shall  or  may  be  excluded 
from  residence  or  citizenship  with  all  others  who  may  desiro 


222       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  benefits  which  our  institutions  confer  upon  the  oppressed 
of  all  nations. 

That  while  there  are  important  reforms  that  are  demanded 
for  purity  of  administration  and  the  welfare  of  the  people, 
their  importance  sinks  into  insignificance  when  compared  with 
the  reform  of  the  drink-traffic,  which  annually  wastes  $800,- 
000,000  of  the  wealth  created  by  toil  and  thrift,  and  drags 
down  thousands  of  families  from  comfort  to  poverty;  which 
fills  jails,  penitentiaries,  insane  asylums,  hospitals,  and  insti- 
tutions for  dependency;  which  destroys  the  health,  saps  in- 
dustry, and  causes  loss  of  life  and  property  to  thousands  in 
the  land;  lowers  intellectual  and  physical  vigor,  dulls  the  cun- 
ning hand  of  the  artisan,  is  the  chief  cause  of  bankruptcy, 
insolvency  and  loss  in  trade,  and  by  its  corrupting  power 
endangers  the  perpetuity  of  free  institutions. 

That  Congress  should  exercise  its  undoubted  power,  and 
prohibit  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  intoxicating  beverages  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  the  territories  of  the  United  States, 
in  all  places  over  which  the  government  has  exclusive  juris- 
diction; that  hereafter  no  state  shall  be  admitted  into  the 
Union  until  its  constitution  shall  expressly  prohibit  polygamy 
and  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  intoxicating  beverages. 

We  earnestly  call  the  attention  of  the  laborer  and  the 
mechanic,  the  miner  and  manufacturer,  and  ask  investigation 
of  the  baneful  effects  upon  labor  and  industry  caused  by  the 
needless  liquor  business,  which  will  be  found  the  robber  who 
lessens  wages  and  profits,  the  destroyer  of  the  happiness  and 
family  welfare  of  the  laboring  man;  and  that  labor  and  all 
legitimate  industry  demand  deliverance  from  the  taxation  and 
loss  which  this  traffic  imposes;  and  that  no  tariff  or  other 
legislation  can  so  healthily  stimulate  production,  or  increase  a 
demand  for  capital  and  labor,  or  produce  so  much  of  comfort 
and  content,  as  the  suppressing  of  this  traffic  would  bring  to 
the  laboring  man,  mechanic,  or  employer  of  labor,  throughout 
our  land.. 

That  the  activity  and  co-operation  of  the  women  of  America 
for  the  promotion  of  temperance  has,  in  all  the  history  of  the 
past,  been  a  strength  and  encouragement,  which  we  gratefully 
acknowledge  and  record.  In  the  later  and  present  phase  of 
the  movement  for  the  prohibition  of  the  licensed  traffic  by  the 
abolition  of  the  drink  saloon,  the  purity  of  purpose  and  method, 
the  earnestness,  zeal,  intelligence  and  devotion,  of  the  mothers 
and  daughters  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union, 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  223 

has  been  eminently  blessed  by  God.  Kansas  and  Iowa  have 
been  given  her  as  "  sheaves  of  rejoicing,"  and  the  education 
and  arousing  of  the  public  mind,  and  the  demand  for  constitu- 
tional amendment  now  prevailing,  are  largely  the  fruit  of  her 
prayers  and  labors,  and  we  rejoice  to  have  our  Christian 
women  unite  with  us  in  sharing  the  labor  that  shall  bring 
the  abolition  of  this  traffic  to  the  polls.  She  shall  join  in  the 
grand  "  Praise  God,  from  Whom  all  blessings  flow,"  when  by 
law  our  boys  and  friends  shall  be  free  from  legal  drink  and 
temptation. 

That  we  believe  in  the  civil  and  political  equality  of  the 
sexes,  and  that  the  ballot  in  the  hand  of  woman  is  a  right  for 
her  protection,  and  would  prove  a  powerful  ally  for  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  drink  saloon,  the  execution  of  law,  the  promotion 
of  reform  in  civil  affairs,  and  the  removal  of  corruption  in 
public  life;  and  thus  believing,  we  relegate  the  practical  out- 
working of  this  reform  to  the  discretion  of  the  Prohibition 
party  in  the  several  states,  according  to  the  condition  of  public 
sentiment  in  those  states.  That,  gratefully,  we  acknowledge 
and  praise  God  for  the  presence  of  His  Spirit,  guiding  our 
counsels  and  granting  the  success  which  has  been  vouchsafed 
in  the  progress  of  temperance  reform;  and,  looking  to  Him 
from  Whom  all  wisdom  and  help  come,  we  ask  the  voters  of 
the  United  States  to  make  the  principles  of  the  above  declara- 
tion a  ruling  principle  in  the  government  of  the  nation  and  of 
the  states. 

Resolved,  That  henceforth  the  Prohibition  Home  Protection 
party  shall  be  called  by  the  name  of  "  The  Prohibition  Party." 

ANTI-MONOPOLY  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  May  14,  1884. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ALSON  J.  STREETEE, 

of  Illinois. 

Chairman,  JOHN  F.  HENRY. 
NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Benjamin  F.  Butler, 

of  Massachusetts. 

For  Vice-President,  Alanson  M.  West, 

of  Mississippi. 


224       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

^Representatives  from  seventeen  states  and  the  District  of 
Columbia  participated  in  the  proceedings  of  this  conven- 
tion. General  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  was 
nominated  as  a  candidate  for  President  on  the  first  ballot; 
but  no  candidate  for  Vice-President  was  presented,  and  so 
the  national  committee  afterward  named  General  Alanson 
M.  West,  of  Mississippi. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted : — 

ANTI-MONOPOLY  PLATFORM. 

The  Anti-Monopoly  organization  of  the  United  States,  in 
convention  assembled,  declares: — 

1.  That  labor  and  capital  should  be  allies;  and  we  demand 
justice  for  both,  by  protecting  the  rights  of  all  against  privi- 
leges for  the  few. 

2.  That  corporations,  the  creatures  of  law,  should  be  con- 
trolled by  law. 

3.  That   we   propose   the   greatest  reduction   practicable   in 
public  expenses. 

4.  That  in  the  enactment  and  vigorous  execution  of  just  laws, 
equality  of  rights,  equality  of  burdens,  equality  of  privileges, 
and  equality  of  powers  in  all  citizens  will  be  secured.     To  this 
end,  we  declare:  — 

5.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  to  immediately  exer- 
cise its  constitutional  prerogative  to  regulate  commerce  among 
the  states.    The  great  instruments  by  which  this  commerce  is 

"  carried  on  are  transportation,  money,  and  the  transmission  of 
intelligence.  They  are  now  mercilessly  controlled  by  giant 
monopolies,  to  the  impoverishment  of  labor,  the  crushing  out 
of  healthful  competition,  and  the  destruction  of  business  secur- 

'  ity.  We  hold  it,  therefore,  to  be  the  imperative  and  immediate 
duty  of  Congress,  to  pass  all  needful  laws  for  the  control  and 
regulation  of  those  great  agents  of  commerce,  in  accordance 
with  the  oft-repeated  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States. 

6.  That  these  monopolies,  which  have  exacted  from  enter- 
prise such  heavy  tribute,  have  also  inflicted  countless  wrongs 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  225 

upon  the  toiling  millions  of  the  United  States;  and  no  system 
of  reform  should  commend  itself  to  the  support  of  the  people 
which  does  not  protect  the  man  who  earns  his  bread  by  the 
sweat  of  his  face.  Bureaus  of  labor-statistics  must  be  estab- 
lished, both  state  and  national;  arbitration  take  the  place  of 
brute  force  in  the  settlement  of  disputes  between  employer 
and  employed;  the  national  eight-hour  law  be  honestly  en- 
forced; the  importation  of  foreign  labor  under  contract  be 
made  illegal;  and  whatever  practical  reforms  may  be  necessary 
for  the  protection  of  united  labor  must  be  granted,  to  the  end 
that  unto  the  toiler  shall  be  given  that  proportion  of  the 
profits  of  the  thing  or  value  created  which  his  labor  bears  to 
the  cost  of  production. 

7.  That  we  approve  and  favor  the  passage  of  an  interstate 
commerce  bill.    Navigable  waters  should  be  improved  by  the 
government,  and  be  free. 

8.  We  demand  the  payment  of  the  bonded  debt  as  it  falls 
due;  the  election  of  United  States  Senators  by  the  direct  vote 
of  the  people  of  their  respective  states;  a  graduated  income- 
tax;  and  a  tariff,  which  is  a  tax  upon  the  people,  that  shall  be 
so  levied  as  to  bear  as  lightly  as  possible  upon  necessaries. 
We  denounce  the  present  tariff  as  being  largely  in  the  interest 
of  monopoly,  and  demand  that  it  be  speedily  and  radically  re- 
formed in  the  interest  of  labor,  instead  of  capital. 

9.  That  no  further  grants  of  public  lands  shall  be  made  to 
corporations.    All  enactments  granting  lands  to  corporations 
should  be  strictly  construed;   and  all  land-grants  should  be 
forfeited,  where  the  terms  upon  which  the  grants  were  made 
have  not  been  strictly  complied  with.    The  lands  must  be  held 
for  homes  for  actual  settlers,  and  must  not  be  subject  to  pur- 
chase or  control  by  non-resident  foreigners  or  other  specu- 
lators. 

10.  That  we  deprecate  the  discrimination  of  American  legis- 
lation against  the  greatest  of  American  industries — agriculture 
— by  which  it  has  been  deprived  of  nearly  all  beneficial  legis- 
lation,  while  forced  to  bear  the  brunt  of  taxation;   and  we 
demand  for  it  the  fostering  care  of  government,  and  the  Just 
recognition  of  its  Importance  in  the  development  and  advance- 
ment of  our  land;  and  we  appeal  to  the  American  farmer  to 
co-operate  with  us  in  our  endeavors  to  advance  the  national 
interests  of  the  country  and  the  overthrow  of  monopoly  in 
every  shape,  whenever  and  wherever  found, 


226       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

EQUAL  (OR  WOMAN'S)  RIGHTS  CONVENTION. 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,  September  20,  1884. 
Chairman,  MRS.  MARIETTA  L.  STOW, 

of  California. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Mrs.  Belva  A.  Lockwood, 

of  District  of  Columbia. 

For  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Marietta  L.  Stow, 

of  California. 

The  convention  made  the  above-named  nominations  and 
adopted  the  following  platform: — 

EQUAL  RIGHTS  PLATFORM. 

1.  We  pledge  ourselves,  if  elected  to  power,  so  far  as  in  us 
lies  to  do  equal  and  exact  justice  to  every  class  of  our  citizens, 
without  distinction  of  color,  sex,  or  nationality. 

2.  We  shall  recommend  that  the  laws  of  the  several  states  be 
so  amended  that  women  will  be  recognized  as  voters,  and  their 
property-rights  made  equal  with  that  of  the  male  population, 
to  the  end  that  they  may  become  self-supporting  rather  than 
a  dependent  class. 

3.  It  will  be  our  earnest  endeavor  to  revive  the  now  lagging 
industries  of  the  country  by  encouraging  and  strengthening 
our  commercial  relations  with  other  countries,  especially  with 
the  Central  and  South  American  States,  whose  wealth  of  pro- 
ductions are  now  largely  diverted  to  England  and  other  Euro- 
pean countries,  for  lack  of  well-established  steamship  lines 
and  railroad  communications  between  these  countries  and  our 
own;   encourage  exports  by  an  effort  to  create  a  demand  for 
our  home  productions;  and  to  this  end  we  deem  that  a  moder- 
ate tariff — sufficient  to  protect  the  laboring  classes,  but  not 
so  high  as  to  keep  our  goods  out  of  the  market — as  most  likely 
to  conserve  the  best  interests  of  our  whole  people.    That  is  to 


ELECTION  OF  1884.  227 

say,  we  shall  avoid  as  much  as  possible  a  high  protective  tariff 
on  the  one  hand,  and  free  trade  on  the  other.  We  shall  also 
endeavor,  by  all  laudable  means,  to  increase  the  wages  of 
laboring  men  and  women.  Our  protective  system  will  be 
most  earnestly  exerted  to  protect  the  commonwealth  of  the 
country  from  venality  and  corruption  in  high  places. 

4.  It  will  be  our  earnest  effort  to  see  that  the  solemn  con- 
tract made  with  the  soldiers  of  the  country  on  enlistment  into 
the  United  States  service — viz.:  that  if  disabled  therein  they 
should  be  pensioned — strictly  carried   out,  and  that  without 
unnecessary  expense  and  delay  to  them;  and  a  re-enactment 
of  the  Arrears  Act. 

5.  We  shall  discountenance  by  every  legal  means  the  liquor- 
trafflc,  because  its  tendency  is  to  demoralize  the  youth  of  the 
land,  to  lower  the  standard  of  morality  among  the  people;  and 
we  do  not  believe  that  the  revenue  derived  from  it  would  feed 
and  clothe  the  paupers  that  it  makes,  and  the  money  expended 
on  its  account  in  the  courts,  workhouses,  and  prisons. 

6.  We  believe  that  the  only  solution  of  the  Indian  question 
is,  to  break  up  all  of  their  small  principalities  and  chieftain- 
ships, that  have  ever  presented  the  anomaly  of  small  kingdoms 
scattered  through  a  republic,  and  ever  liable  to  break  out  in 
some  unexpected  locality,  and  which  have  been  hitherto  main- 
tained at  such  great  expense  to  the  government,  and  treat  the 
Indian  like  a  rational  human  being,  as  we  have  the  negro — 
make  him  a  citizen,  amenable  to  the  laws,  and  let  him  manage 
his  own  private  affairs. 

7.  That  it  is  but  just  that  every  protection  granted  to  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States  by  birth  should  also  be  secured  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States  by  adoption. 

8.  We  shall  continue  gradually  to  pay  the  public  debt  and  to 
refund  the  balance,  but  not  in  such  manner  as  to  curtail  the 
circulating  medium  of  the  country,  so  as  to  embarrass  trade; 
but  pledge  ourselves  that  every  dollar  shall  be  paid  in  good 
time. 

9.  We  oppose  monopoly,  the  tendency  of  which  is  to  make 
the  rich  richer,  and  the  poor  poorer,  as  opposed  to  the  genius 
and  welfare  of  republican  institutions. 

10.  We  shall  endeavor  to  aid  in  every  laudable  way  the  work 
of  educating  the  masses  of  the  people,  not  only  in  book  knowl- 
edge, but  in  physical,  moral,  and  social  culture,  in  such  a 
manner  as  will  tend  to  elevate  the  standard  of  American  man- 


228       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

hood  and  womanhood — that  the  individual  may  receive  the 
highest  possible  development. 

11.  We  recommend  a  uniform  system  of  laws  for  the  several 
states  as  desirable,  as  far  as  practicable;   and  especially  the 
laws  relating  to  the  descent  of  property,  marriage  and  divorce, 
and  the  limitation  of  contracts. 

12.  We  will  endeavor  to  maintain  the  peaceable  relations 
which   now   exist  between  the  various  sections   of  our  vast 
country,  and  strive  to  enter  into  a  compact  of  peace  with  the 
other  American  as  well  as  the  European  nations,  in  order  that 
the  peace  which  we  now  enjoy  may  become  perpetual.    We 
believe  that  war  is  a  relic  of  barbarism  belonging  to  the  past, 
and  should  only  be  resorted  to  in  the  direst  extremity. 

13.  That  the  dangers  of  a  solid  South  or  a  solid  North  shall 
be  averted  by  a  strict  regard  to  the  interests  of  every  section 
of  the  country,  a  fair  distribution  of  public  offices,  and  such  a 
distribution  of  the  public  funds,  for  the  increase  of  the  facili- 
ties of  inter-commercial  relations,  as  will  restore  the  South 
to  her  former  industrial  prestige,  develop  the  exhaustless  re- 
sources of  the  West,  foster  the  iron,  coal,  and  woolen  interests 
of  the  Middle  States,  and  revive  the  manufactures  of  the  East. 

14.  We  shall  foster  civil  service,  believing  that  a  true  civil- 
service  reform,  honestly  and  candidly  administered,  will  lift 
us  out  of  the  imputation  of  having  become  a  nation  of  office- 
seekers,  and  have  a  tendency  to  develop  in  candidates  for  office 
an  earnest  desire  to  make  themselves  worthy  and  capable  of 
performing  the  duties  of  the  office  that  they  desire  to  fill;  and, 
in  order  to  make  the  reform  a  permanent  one,  recommend  that 
it  be  engrafted  into  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

15.  It  will  be  the  policy  of  the  Equal  Rights  party  to  see  that 
the  residue  of  the  public   domain  is  parceled  out  to  actual 
settlers   only,   that   the   honest   yeomanry   of   the   land,    and 

-  especially  those  who  have  fought  to  preserve  it,  shall  enjoy  its 
benefits. 

:     The  election  occurred  on  November  4,  1884. 
THIRTY-EIGHT  STATES  VOTED. 


ELECTION  OF  1884. 


229 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Grover  Cleveland, 
Democrat. 

James  G.  Elaine, 
Kepublican. 

Benjamin  F.  Butler, 
Greenbacker. 

John  P.  St.  John, 
Prohibitionist. 

Total  vote. 

Alabama  

93,951 
72,927 
89,288 
27,723 
67,199 
16,964 
31,766 
94,667 
312,355 
244,990 
177,316 
90,132 
152,961 
62,540 
52,14O 
96,932 
122,481 
149,835 
70,144 
76,510 
23.-),<>88 
64,391 
5,578 
39,183 
127.79H 
563,154 
142,952 
368,280 
24,604 
392.785 
12,391 
<;<».*!  »n 
1  33,258 
225.309 
17,331 
185,497 
67,817 
146,450 

59,591 
50,895 
102,416 
36,29O 
65,923 
12,951 
28,031 
48,603 
337,474 
238,463 
197,089 
154,406 
118,122 
46,347 
72,209 
85,699 
146,724 
192,669 
111,923 
43,509 
202,929 
79,912 
7,193 
43,249 
123,440 
562,005 
12r.,008 
4OO,O82 
26,860 
473,804 

K».o:;o 
21.7:5:! 
124,078 
93,1-11 
:!!»..-,!  I 
139.356 
03,000 
101,157 

873 
1,847 
2,O17 
1,953 
1,688 
6 

'i45 
10,910 
8,293 

16^341 
1,691 

3,953 
531 
24,433 
42,243 
3,583 

"26 
552 
3,496 
16,994 

5479 
726 
16,992 
422 

'957 
3,321 

785 

'sio 

4,598 

612 

2',92O 
761 
2,305 
55 
72 
195 
12,074 
3,028 
1,472 
4,495 
3,139 

2460 

2,794 
10,026 
18,403 
4,684 

2,153 
2,899 

1,571 
6,159 
25,016 
454 
11,069 
492 
15,283 
928 

3431 

:;,.->:!! 
1,752 
138 
939 
7,656 

155,027 
125,669 
196,641 
66,727 
137,115 
29,976 
59,869 
143,610 
672,813 
494,774 
375,877 
265,374 
275,913 
108,887 
130,462 
186,956 

3o;j,()(it 

403,150 
190,334 
120,019 
441.07O 
137,202 
12,797 
8-1,555 
260,893 
1,167,169 
268,474 
784,610 
52,682 
898,804 
3i>,771 
91,623 
259,424 

32.-,.:!<>.-, 
5<»,:;s-j 
32  1,991 
132,1(52 
319,870 

Arkansas  

California  

Colorado  

Delaware  

Florida  

Georgia  

Illinois  

Indiana  

Iowa  

Kansas  

Kentucky  

Louisiana  

Maine  

Maryland  

Massachusetts  

Michigan  

Minnesota   

M  issou  ri   

Nevada  

New  Jersey  

New  York  

North  Carol  ina  

Ohio  

Pennsylvania  

South  Carolina  

Ten  ncssee  

Texas  

Vermont  

Virginia   

West  Virginia  

Wisconsin  

Total  

1,914,986 

4,854,981 

175,365 

150,369 

0,095,701 

230       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL    VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  11,  1885. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Number  entitled  to  vote. 

Grover  Cleveland, 
of  New  York. 

James  G.  Elaine, 
of  Maine. 

Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
of  Indiana. 

John  A.  Logan, 
of  Illinois. 

10 

7 

8 
3 

22 

18 

9 

a 

i<i 

13 

7 

5 
3 
4 

28 

3 
30 
4 

4 
li 

10 

7 

6 
3 
4 
12 

15 

13 

8 

8 

9 
16 

9 
36 
11 

9 
12 
13 

12 
6 

8 
3 

22 

13 
9 

6 

14 
13 

7 

5 
3 
4 

23 
3 
SO 
4 

4 
11 

10 
7 
8 
3 
6 
3 
4 
12 
22 
15 
13 
9 
13 
8 
6 
8 
14 
13 
7 
9 
16 
5 
3 
4 
9 
36 
11 
23 
3 
30 
4 
9 
12 
13 
4 
12 
6 
11 

California  

CoL  >rado  

6 
3 

4 
12 

15 

Kansas  

13 

8 

Maine  

8 

Massachusetts  

M  innesota  

9 
16 

Nebraska  

New  Hampshire  . 

9 
36 
11 

Ohio  

]lhodo  Island  

9 
12 
13 

Tennessee  

Texp  s  • 

12 
6 

Total  

219 

182 

219 

182 

401 

ELECTION  OF  1884.  231 

Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  President  and  Thomas  A. 
Hendricks  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Forty-ninth  Congress. 

Senate —  34  Democrats,     41  Republicans,  1  vacancy Total,    76 

House — 182  Democrats,  140  Republicans,  2  Nationals,     1 

vacancy  "       325 

Fiftieth   Congress. 

Senate —  37  Democrats,    39  Republicans Total,    76 

House — 170  Democrats,  151  Republicans,  1  Independent,  3 

Laborites "       325 


232       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1888 


Democratic  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  CALVIN  S.  BEIGE,  of  Ohio. 
Secretary,  SIMON  P.  SHEEEIN,  of  Indiana. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  5,  1888. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  S.  M.  WHITE, 

of  California. 

Chairman,  PATRICK  A.  COLLINS, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Grover  Cleveland, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Allen  G.  Thurman, 

of  Ohio. 

Forty-eight  years  had  passed  since  a  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent had  been  nominated  by  a  Democratic  convention  by 
acclamation.  At  this  convention  Grover  Cleveland  was 
nominated  for  a  second  term,  by  resolution,  without  oppo- 
sition. 

For  Vice-President,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  of  Ohio,  was 
nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  690  votes.  Votes 
were  also  cast  for  Isaac  P.  Gray,  of  Indiana  (105),  and  for 
John  C.  Black,  of  Illinois  (25). 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  233 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

The  Democratic  party  of  the  United  States,  in  national  con- 
vention assembled,  renews  the  pledge  of  its  fidelity  to  Demo- 
cratic faith,  and  reaffirms  the  platform  adopted  by  its  repre- 
sentatives at  the  convention  of  1884,  and  indorses  the  views 
expressed  by  President  Cleveland  in  his  last  earnest  message 
to  Congress  as  the  correct  interpretation  of  that  platform 
upon  the  question  of  tariff  reduction;  and  also  indorses  the 
efforts  of  our  Democratic  representatives  in  Congress  to  secure 
a  reduction  of  excessive  taxation. 

MAINTENANCE  OF  THE   UNION. 

Chief  among  its  principles  of  party  faith  are  the  mainte- 
nance of  an  indissoluble  union  of  free  and  indestructible  states, 
now  about  to  enter  upon  its  second  century  of  unexampled 
progress  and  renown;  devotion  to  a  plan  of  government  regu- 
lated by  a  written  constitution,  strictly  specifying  every 
granted  power  and  expressly  reserving  to  the  states  or  people 
the  entire  ungranted  residue  of  power;  the  encouragement  of 
a  jealous  popular  vigilance,  directed  to  all  who  have  been 
chosen  for  brief  terms  to  enact  and  execute  the  laws,  and  are 
charged  with  the  duty  of  preserving  peace,  insuring  equality, 
and  establishing  justice. 

PLEDGES  BEDEEMED. 

The  Democratic  party  welcomes  an  exacting  scrutiny  of  the 
administration  of  the  executive  power,  which  four  years  ago 
was  committed  to  its  trust  in  the  selection  of  Grover  Cleve- 
land as  President  of  the  United  States;  but  it  challenges  the 
most  searching  scrutiny  concerning  its  fidelity  and  devotion  to 
the  pledges  which  then  invited  the  suffrages  of  the  people. 
During  a  most  critical  period  of  our  financial  affairs,  resulting 
from  over-taxation,  the  anomalous  condition  of  our  currency, 
and  a  public  debt  unmatured,  it  has,  by  the  adoption  of  a  wise 
and  conservative  course,  not  only  averted  disaster,  but  greatly 
promoted  the  prosperity  of  the  people. 

HOMES  FOR  THE  PEOPLE. 

It  has  reversed  the  improvident  and  unwise  policy  of  the 
Republican  party  touching  the  public  domain,  and  has  re- 
claimed from  corporations  and  syndicates,  alien  and  domestic, 
and  restored  to  the  people,  nearly  100,000,000  acres  of  valuable 
land,  to  be  sacredly  held  as  homesteads  for  our  citizens. 


234       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

PENSIONS  FOR  THE  SOLDIERS. 

While  carefully  guarding  the  interests  of  the  taxpayers  and 
conforming  strictly  to  the  principles  of  justice  and  equity,  it 
has  paid  out  more  for  pensions  and  bounties  to  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  the  republic  than  was  ever  paid  before  during 
an  equal  period. 

FOREIGN   POLICY. 

It  has  adopted  and  consistently  pursued  a  firm  and  prudent 
foreign  policy,  preserving  peace  with  all  nations,  while  scrupu- 
lously maintaining  all  the  rights  and  interests  of  our  own 
government  and  people,  at  home  and  abroad.  The  exclusion 
from  our  shores  of  Chinese  laborers  has  been  effectually  se- 
cured under  the  provisions  of  a  treaty,  the  operation  of  which 
has  been  postponed  by  the  action  of  a  Republican  majority  in 
the  Senate. 

CIVIL-SERVICE   REFOBM. 

Honest  reform  in  the  civil  service  has  been  inaugurated  and 
maintained  by  President  Cleveland,  and  he  has  brought  the 
public  service  to  the  highest  standard  of  efficiency,  not  only  by 
rule  and  precept,  but  by  the  example  of  his  own  untiring  and 
unselfish  administration  of  public  affairs. 

RIGHTS  OF  THE   PEOPLE. 

In  every  branch  and  department  of  the  government  under 
Democratic  control,  the  rights  and  the  welfare  of  all  the  people 
have  been  guarded  and  defended;  every  public  interest  has 
been  protected,  and  the  equality  of  all  our  citizens  before  the 
law,  without  regard  to  race  or  color,  has  been  steadfastly 
maintained.  Upon  its  record,  thus  exhibited,  and  upon  the 
pledge  of  a  continuance  to  the  people  of  these  benefits,  the 
Democracy  invokes  a  renewal  of  popular  trust  by  the  re-elec- 
tion of  a  Chief  Magistrate  who  has  been  faithful,  able,  and 
prudent.  We  invoke,  in  addition  to  that  trust,  the  transfer 
also  to  the  Democracy  of  the  entire  legislative  power. 

TAXATION. 

The  Republican  party,  controlling  the  Senate  and  resisting 
in  both  Houses  of  Congress  a  reformation  of  unjust  and  un- 
equal tax  laws  which  have  outlasted  the  necessities  of  war, 
and  are  now  undermining  the  abundance  of  a  long  peace,  denies 
to  the  people  equality  before  the  law  and  the  fairness  and  the 
justice  which  are  their  right.  Thus  the  cry  of  American  labor 
for  a  better  share  in  the  rewards  of  industry  is  stifled  with 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  235 

false  pretenses,  enterprise  is  fettered  and  bound  down  to  home 
markets,  capital  is  discouraged  with  doubt,  and  unequal,  unjust 
laws  can  neither  be  properly  amended  nor  repealed.  The 
Democratic  party  will  continue,  with  all  the  power  confided 
to  it,  the  struggle  to  reform  these  laws  in  accordance  with  the 
pledges  of  its  last  platform,  indorsed  at  the  ballot-box  by  the 
suffrages  of  the  people. 

Of  all  the  industrious  freemen  of  our  land,  the  immense 
majority,  including  every  tiller  of  the  soil,  gain  no  advantage 
from  excessive  tax  laws,  but  the  price  of  nearly  everything 
they  buy  is  increased  by  the  favoritism  of  an  unequal  system 
of  tax  legislation.  All  unnecessary  taxation  is  unjust  taxation. 
It  is  repugnant  to  the  creed  of  Democracy  that  by  such  taxa- 
tion the  cost  of  the  necessaries  of  life  should  be  unjustifiably 
increased  to  all  our  people.  Judged  by  Democratic  principles, 
the  interests  of  the  people  are  betrayed  when,  by  unnecessary 
taxation,  trusts  and  combinations  are  permitted  to  exist,  which, 
while  unduly  enriching  the  few  that  combine,  rob  the  body  of 
our  citizens  by  depriving  them  of  the  benefits  of  natural 
competition. 

NATIONAL   SXJRPLCS. 

Every  Democratic  rule  of  governmental  action  is  violated 
when,  through  unnecessary  taxation,  a  vast  sum  of  money, 
far  beyond  the  needs  of  an  economical  administration,  is 
drawn  from  the  people  and  the  channels  of  trade  and  accumu- 
lated as  a  demoralizing  surplus  in  the  National  Treasury.  The 
money  now  lying  idle  in  the  general  treasury,  resulting  from 
superfluous  taxation,  amounts  to  more  than  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  millions,  and  the  surplus  collected  is  reaching  the 
sum  of  more  than  sixty  millions  annually.  Debauched  by  this 
immense  temptation,  the  remedy  of  the  Republican  party  is 
to  meet  and  exhaust,  by  extravagant  appropriations  and  ex- 
penses, whether  constitutional  or  not,  the  accumulation  of 
extravagant  taxation.  The  Democratic  policy  is  to  enforce 
frugality  in  public  expense  and  to  abolish  unnecessary  taxa- 
tion. 

TARIFF  REFORM. 

Our  established  domestic  industries  and  enterprises  should 
not  and  need  not  be  endangered  by  the  reduction  and  correc- 
tion of  the  burdens  of  taxation.  On  the  contrary,  a  fair  and 
careful  revision  of  our  tax  laws,  with  due  allowance  for  the 
difference  between  the  wages  of  American  and  foreign  labor, 
most  promote  and  encourage  every  branch  of  such  industries 


236       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

and  enterprises,  by  giving  them  assurance  of  an  extended 
market  and  steady  and  continuous  operations.  In  the  interests 
of  American  labor,  which  should  in  no  event  be  neglected,  the 
revision  of  our  tax  laws  contemplated  by  the  Democratic  party 
should  promote  the  advantage  of  such  labor,  by  cheapening 
the  cost  of  necessaries  of  life  in  the  home  of  every  working- 
man,  and  at  the  same  time  securing  to  him  steady  and  remun- 
erative employment.  Upon  this  question  of  tariff  reform,  so 
closely  concerning  every  phase  of  our  national  life,  and  upon 
every  question  involved  in  the  problem  of  good  government, 
the  Democratic  party  submits  its  principles  and  professions 
to  the  intelligent  suffrages  of  the  American  people. 

REDUCTION  OF   REVENUE. 

Eesolution  presented  by  Mr.  Scott,  of  Pennsylvania: 

Resolved,  That  this  convention  hereby  indorses  and  recom- 
mends the  early  passage  of  the  bill  for  the  reduction  of  the 
revenue  now  pending  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 

ADMITTANCE    OF   TERRITORIES. 

Kesolution  presented  by  Mr.  Lehmann,  of  Iowa : 

Resolved,  That  a  just  and  liberal  policy  should  be  pursued  in 
reference  to  the  territories;  that  right  of  self-government  is 
inherent  in  the  people  and  guaranteed  under  the  Constitution; 
that  the  Territories  of  Washington,  Dakota,  Montana,  and  New 
Mexico  are,  by  virtue  of  population  and  development,  entitled 
to  admission  into  the  Union  as  states,  and  we  unqualifiedly 
condemn  the  course  of  the  Republican  party  in  refusing  state- 
hood and  self-government  to  their  people. 

FOREIGN   SELF-GOVERNMENT. 

Eesolution  presented  by  ex-Governor  Leon  Abbett,  of 
New  Jersey : 

Resolved,  That  we  express  our  cordial  sympathy  with  the 
struggling  people  of  all  nations  in  their  efforts  to  secure  for 
themselves  the  inestimable  blessings  of  self-government  and 
civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  we  especially  declare  our  sym- 
pathy with  the  efforts  of  those  noble  patriots  who,  led  by 
Gladstone  and  Parnell,  have  conducted  their  grand  and  peace- 
ful contest  for  home  rule  in  Ireland. 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  237 

Republican  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  M.  S.  QUAY,  of  Pennsylvania. 
Secretary,  J.  SLOAT  FASSETT,  of  New  York. 

In  1891  Mr.  Quay  resigned,  and  JAMES  S.  CLAKKSOK,  of 
Iowa,  was  chosen  Chairman. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  19,  1888. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  M.  THURSTON, 

of  Nebraska. 

Chairman,  M.  M.  ESTEE, 

of  California. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Benjamin  Harrison, 

of  Indiana. 

For  Vice-President,  Levi  P.  Morton, 

of  New  York. 

The  session  of  this  convention  was  one  of  the  longest  in 
the  history  of  the  country  having  lasted  for  six  days. 
From  among  the  large  number  of  candidates  for  President, 
Benjamin  Harrison  was  chosen  on  the  eighth  ballot.  The 
following  is  the  vote  in  detail : 


238       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

6th. 

7th. 

8th. 

JOHN  SHERMAN, 
of  Ohio  

229 

249 

211 

235 

2^4 

244 

231 

118 

"WALTER,  Q.  GRESHAM, 

111 

108 

123 

98 

87 

91 

91 

59 

CHAUNCEY  M.  DEPEW, 
of  New  York  

90 

'JO 

91 

EUSSEL  A.  ALGEB, 

8-1 

116 

122 

135 

142 

137 

1°0 

1OO 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON, 
of  Indiana  

80 

91 

94 

217 

213 

°31 

278 

544 

WILLIAM  B.  ALLISON, 
of  Iowa  

72 

75 

88 

88 

99 

73 

78 

JAMES  G.  ELAINE, 
of  Maine  

35 

33 

35 

42 

48 

40 

15 

5 

JOHN  J.  INGALLS, 
of  Kansas  

28 

16 

JEREMIAH  M.  RUSK, 
of  Wisconsin  

25 

20 

16 

WILLIAM  W.  PHELPS, 

25 

18 

5 

E.  H.  FITLER, 
of  Pennsylvania  

24 

JOSEPH  R.  HAWLEY, 
of  Connecticut  

13 

EGBERT  T.  LINCOLN, 
of  Illinois  

3 

2 

1 

2 

WILLIAM  MCKINLEY,  JR., 
of  Ohio  

2 

3 

8 

11 

14 

12 

16 

4 

SAMUEL  F.  MILLER, 
of  Iowa  

2 

FREDERICK  DOUGLASS, 
of  District  of  Columbia.  .  • 

1 

JOSEPH  B.  FORAKER, 
of  Ohio  

1 

1 

1 

FREDERICK  D.  GRANT, 
of  New  York  

1 

CREED  HAYMOND, 
of  California  

1 

830 

830 

830 

829 

827 

830 

831 

830 

416 

416 

416 

415 

414 

416 

416 

416 

For  Vice- President,  Levi  P.  Morton,  of  New  York,  was 
nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  591  votes.  Votes 
were  also  cast  for  other  candidates,  as  follows:  William 
Walter  Phelps,  of  New  Jersey,  119;  William  0.  Bradley,  of 
Kentucky,  1*03;  Blanche  K.  Bruce,  of  Mississippi,  11;  and 
Walter  P.  Thomas,  of  Texas,  1. 

The  following  is  the  platform  as  adopted: — 


ELECTION  or  1888.          239 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  Republicans  of  the  United  States,  assembled  by  their 
delegates  in  national  convention,  pause  on  the  threshold  of 
their  proceedings  to  honor  the  memory  of  their  first  great 
leader,  the  immortal  champion  of  liberty  and  the  rights  of 
the  people — Abraham  Lincoln; — and  to  cover  also  with  wreaths 
of  imperishable  remembrance  and  gratitude  the  heroic  names 
of  our  later  leaders,  who  have  more  recently  been  called  away 
from  our  councils — Grant,  Garfield,  Arthur,  Logan,  Conkling. 
May  their  memories  be  faithfully  cherished.  We  also  recall, 
with  our  greetings  and  with  prayer  for  his  recovery,  the  name 
of  one  of  our  living  heroes,  whose  memory  will  be  treasured 
in  the  history  both  of  Republicans  and  of  the  republic — the 
name  of  that  noble  soldier  and  favorite  child  of  victory,  Philip 
H.  Sheridan. 

In  the  spirit  of  those  great  leaders,  and  of  our  own  devotion 
to  human  liberty,  and  with  that  hostility  to  all  forms  of 
despotism  and  oppression  which  is  the  fundamental  idea  of  the 
Republican  party,  we  send  fraternal  congratulations  to  our 
fellow-Americans  of  Brazil  upon  their  great  act  of  emancipa- 
tion, which  completed  the  abolition  of  slavery  throughout  the 
two  American  continents.  We  earnestly  hope  that  we  may 
soon  congratulate  our  fellow-citizens  of  Irish  birth  upon  the 
peaceful  recovery  of  home  rule  for  Ireland. 

FREE   SUFFRAGE. 

We  reaffirm  our  unswerving  devotion  to  the  national  Consti- 
tution and  to  the  indissoluble  union  of  the  states;  to  the 
autonomy  reserved  to  the  states  under  the  Constitution;  to 
the  personal  rights  and  liberties  of  citizens  in  all  the  states 
and  territories  in  the  Union,  and  especially  to  the  supreme 
and  sovereign  right  of  every  lawful  citizen,  rich  or  poor,  native 
or  foreign-born,  white  or  black,  to  cast  one  free  ballot  in  public 
elections  and  to  have  that  ballot  duly  counted.  We  hold  the 
free  and  honest  popular  ballot  and  the  just  and  equal  represen- 
tation of  all  the  people  to  be  the  foundation  of  our  republican 
government,  and  demand  effective  legislation  to  secure  the 
integrity  and  purity  of  elections,  which  are  the  fountains  of 
all  public  authority.  We  charge  that  the  present  administra- 
tion and  the  Democratic  majority  in  Congress  owe  their  exist- 
ence to  the  suppression  of  the  ballot  by  a  criminal  nullifica- 
tion of  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States, 


240       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


PROTECTION  TO  AMERICAN   INDUSTRIES. 

We  are  uncompromisingly  in  favor  of  the  American  system 
of  protection;  we  protest  against  its  destruction  as  proposed 
by  the  President  and  his  party.  They  serve  the  interests  of 
Europe;  we  will  support  the  interests  of  America.  We  accept 
the  issue  and  confidently  appeal  to  the  people  for  their  judg- 
ment. The  protective  system  must  be  maintained.  Its  aban- 
donment has  always  been  followed  by  general  disaster  to  all 
interests,  except  those  of  the  usurer  and  the  sheriff.  We  de- 
nounce the  Mills  bill  as  destructive  to  the  general  business, 
the  labor,  and  the  farming  interests  of  the  country,  and  we 
heartily  indorse  the  consistent  and  patriotic  action  of  the 
Republican  representatives  in  Congress  in  opposing  its  passage. 

DUTIES   ON   WOOL. 

We  condemn  the  proposition  of  the  Democratic  party  to 
place  wool  on  the  free  list,  and  we  insist  that  the  duties 
thereon  shall  be  adjusted  and  maintained  so  as  to  furnish  full 
and  adequate  protection  to  that  industry. 

THE   INTERNAL,   REVENUE. 

The  Republican  party  would  effect  all  needed  reduction  of 
the  national  revenue  by  repealing  the  taxes  upon  tobacco, 
which  are  an  annoyance  and  burden  to  agriculture,  and  the  tax 
upon  spirits  used  in  the  arts  and  for  mechanical  purposes,  and 
by  such  revision  of  the  tariff  laws  as  will  tend  to  check  imports 
of  such  articles  as  are  produced  by  our  people,  the  production 
of  which  gives  employment  to  our  labor,  and  release  from 
import  duties  those  articles  of  foreign  production  (except 
luxuries)  the  like  of  which  cannot  be  produced  at  home.  If 
there  shall  still  remain  a  larger  revenue  than  is  requisite  for 
the  wants  of  the  government,  we  favor  the  entire  repeal  of 
internal  taxes  rather  than  the  surrender  of  any  part  of  our 
protective  system,  at  the  joint  behests  of  the  whiskey  trusts 
and  the  agents  of  foreign  manufacturers. 

FOREIGN   CONTRACT   LABOR. 

We  declare  our  hostility  to  the  introduction  into  this  country 
of  foreign  contract  labor  and  of  Chinese  labor,  alien  to  our 
civilization  and  our  Constitution,  and  we  demand  the  rigid 
enforcement  of  the  existing  laws  against  it,  and  favor  such  im- 
mediate legislation  as  will  exclude  such  labor  from  our  shores. 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  241 

COMBINATIONS  OF  CAPITAL. 

We  declare  our  opposition  to  all  combinations  of  capital, 
organized  in  trusts  or  otherwise,  to  control  arbitrarily  the 
condition  of  trade  among  our  citizens;  and  we  recommend  to 
Congress  and  the  state  legislatures,  in  their  respective  juris- 
dictions, such  legislation  as  will  prevent  the  execution  of  all 
schemes  to  oppress  the  people  by  undue  charges  on  their  sup- 
plies, or  by  unjust  rates  for  the  transportation  of  their  pro- 
ducts to  market.  We  approve  the  legislation  by  Congress  to 
prevent  alike  unjust  burdens  and  unfair  discriminations  be- 
tween the  states. 

HOMES   FOB   THE   PEOPLE. 

We  reaffirm  the  policy  of  appropriating  the  public  lands  of 
the  United  States  to  be  homesteads  for  American  citizens  and 
settlers,  not  aliens,  which  the  Republican  party  established  in 
1862,  against  the  persistent  opposition  of  the  Democrats  in 
Congress,  and  which  has  brought  our  great  Western  domain 
into  such  magnificent  development.  The  restoration  of  un- 
earned railroad  land-grants  to  the  public  domain  for  the  use 
of  actual  settlers,  which  was  begun  under  the  administration 
of  President  Arthur,  should  be  continued.  We  deny  that  the 
Democratic  party  has  ever  restored  one  acre  to  the  people,  but 
declare  that  by  the  joint  action  of  the  Republicans  and  Demo- 
crats about  50,000,000  of  acres  of  unearned  lands  originally 
granted  for  the  construction  of  railroads  have  been  restored 
to  the  public  domain,  in  pursuance  of  the  conditions  inserted 
by  the  Republican  party  in  the  original  grants.  We  charge 
the  Democratic  administration  with  failure  to  execute  the 
laws  securing  to  settlers  title  to  their  homesteads,  and  with 
using  appropriations  made  for  that  purpose  to  harass  inno- 
cent settlers  with  spies  and  prosecutions,  under  the  false  pre- 
tense of  exposing  frauds  and  vindicating  the  law. 

HOME  RULE  IN  TERRITORIES. 

The  government  by  Congress  of  the  territories  is  based  upon 
necessity  only,  to  the  end  that  they  may  become  states  in 
the  Union;  therefore,  whenever  the  conditions  of  population, 
material  resources,  public  intelligence  and  morality  are  such 
as  to  insure  a  stable  local  government  therein,  the  people  of 
such  territories  should  be  permitted,  as  a  right  inherent  in 
them,  the  right  to  form  for  themselves  constitutions  and  state 
governments,  and  be  admitted  into  the  Union.  Pending  the 
preparation  for  statehood,  all  officers  thereof  should  be  selected 


242       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

from  the   bona  fide   residents  and  citizens   of   the   territory 
wherein  they  are  to  serve. 

ADMITTANCE  OF   SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

South  Dakota  should  of  right  be  immediately  admitted  as  a 
state  in  the  Union,  under  the  constitution  framed  and  adopted 
by  her  people,  and  we  heartily  indorse  the  action  of  the  Repub- 
lican Senate  in  twice  passing  bills  for  her  admission.  The 
refusal  of  the  Democratic  House  of  Representatives,  for  parti- 
san purposes,  to  favorably  consider  these  bills,  is  a  willful 
violation  of  the  sacred  American  principle  of  local  self-govern- 
ment, and  merits  the  condemnation  of  all  just  men.  The 
pending  bills  in  the  Senate  for  acts  to  enable  the  people  of 
Washington,  North  Dakota,  and  Montana  Territories  to  form 
constitutions  and  establish  state  governments  should  be  passed 
without  unnecessary  delay.  The  Republican  party  pledges 
itself  to  do  all  in  its  power  to  facilitate  the  admission  of  the 
Territories  of  New  Mexico,  Wyoming,  Idaho,  and  Arizona  to 
the  enjoyment  of  self-government  as  state — such  of  them  as 
are  now  qualified  as  soon  as  possible,  and  the  others  as  soon 
as  they  may  become  so. 

MORMO^TISM. 

The  political  power  of  the  Mormon  Church  in  the  territories 
as  exercised  in  the  past  is  a  menace  to  free  institutions,  a 
danger  no  longer  to  be  suffered.  Therefore  we  pledge  the 
Republican  party  to  appropriate  legislation  asserting  the  sov- 
ereignty of  the  nation  in  all  territories  where  the  same  is 
questioned,  and  in  furtherance  of  that  end  to  place  upon  the 
statute-books  legislation  stringent  enough  to  divorce  the  polit- 
ical from  the  ecclesiastical  power,  and  thus  stamp  out  the 
attendant  wickedness  of  polygamy. 

BIMETALLISM. 

The  Republican  party  is  in  favor  of  the  use  of  both  gold  and 
silver  as  money,  and  condemns  the  policy  of  the  Democratic 
administration  in  its  efforts  to  demonetize  silver. 

REDUCTION   OF   LETTER   POSTAGE. 

We  demand  the  reduction  of  letter  postage  to  one  cent  per 
ounce. 

FREE   SCHOOLS. 

In  a  Republic  like  ours,  where  the  citizen  is  the  sovereign 
and  the  official  the  servant,  where  no  power  is  exercised  except 
by  the  will  of  the  people,  it  is  important  that  the  sovereign — 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  243 

the  people — should  possess  intelligence.  The  free  school  is  the 
promoter  of  that  intelligence  which  is  to  preserve  us  a  free 
nation;  therefore  the  state  or  nation,  or  both  combined,  should 
support  free  institutions  of  learning  sufficient  to  afford  to 
every  child  growing  up  in  the  land  the  opportunity  of  a  good 
common-school  education. 

ABMY  AND   NAVY   FORTIFICATIONS. 

We  earnestly  recommend  that  prompt  action  be  taken  by 
Congress  in  the  enactment  of  such  legislation  as  will  best 
secure  the  rehabilitation  of  our  American  merchant  marine, 
and  we  protest  against  the  passage  by  Congress  of  a  free-ship 
bill,  as  calculated  to  work  injustice  to  labor  by  lessening  the 
wages  of  those  engaged  in  preparing  materials  as  well  as  those 
directly  employed  in  our  shipyards.  We  demand  appropria- 
tions for  the  early  rebuilding  of  our  navy;  for  the  construction 
of  coast  fortifications  and  modern  ordnance,  and  other  ap- 
proved modern  means  of  defense  for  the  protection  of  our 
defenseless  harbors  and  cities;  for  the  payment  of  just  pen- 
sions to  our  soldiers;  for  the  necessary  works  of  national 
importance  in  the  improvement  of  harbors  and  the  channels 
of  internal,  coastwise,  and  foreign  commerce;  for  the  encour- 
agement of  the  shipping  interests  of  the  Atlantic,  Gulf  and 
Pacific  States,  as  well  as  for  the  payment  of  the  maturing 
public  debt.  This  policy  will  give  employment  to  our  labor, 
activity  to  our  various  industries,  increase  the  security  of  our 
country,  promote  trade,  open  new  and  direct  markets  for  our 
produce,  and  cheapen  the  cost  of  transportation.  We  affirm 
this  to  be  far  better  for  our  country  than  the  Democratic 
policy  of  loaning  the  government's  money,  without  interest, 
to  "  pet  banks." 

THE   MONROE   DOCTRINE. 

The  conduct  of  foreign  affairs  by  the  present  administration 
has  been  distinguished  by  its  inefficiency  and  its  cowardice. 
Having  withdrawn  from  the  Senate  all  pending  treaties  effected 
by  Republican  administrations  for  the  removal  of  foreign  bur- 
dens and  restrictions  upon  our  commerce  and  for  its  extension 
into  better  markets,  it  has  neither  effected  nor  proposed  any 
others  in  their  stead.  Professing  adherence  to  the  Monroe 
doctrine,  it  has  seen,  with  idle  complacency,  the  extension  of 
foreign  influence  in  Central  America  and  of  foreign  trade 
everywhere  among  our  neighbors.  It  has  refused  to  charter, 
sanction,  or  encourage  any  American  organization  for  con- 


24:4:       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

structing  the  Nicaragua  Canal,  a  work  of  vital  importance  to 
the  maintenance  of  the  Monroe  doctrine,  and  of  our  national 
influence  in  Central  and  South  America,  and  necessary  for  the 
development  of  trade  with  our  Pacific  territory,  with  South 
America,  and  with  the  islands  and  farther  coasts  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean. 

PROTECTION   OF   OUR   FISHERIES. 

We  arraign  the  present  Democratic  administration  for  its 
weak  and  unpatriotic  treatment  of  the  fisheries  question,  and 
its  pusillanimous  surrender  of  the  essential  privileges  to  which 
our  fishing  vessels  are  entitled  in  Canadian  ports  under  the 
treaty  of  1818,  the  reciprocal  maritime  legislation  of  1830,  and 
the  comity  of  nations,  and  which  Canadian  fishing  vessels 
receive  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States.  We  condemn  the 
policy  of  the  present  administration  and  the  Democratic  ma- 
jority in  Congress  toward  our  fisheries  as  unfriendly  and  con- 
spicuously unpatriotic,  and  as  tending  to  destroy  a  valuable 
national  industry  and  an  indispensable  resource  of  defense 
against  a  foreign  enemy.  The  name  of  American  applies  alike 
to  all  citizens  of  the  republic,  and  imposes  upon  all  alike  the 
same  obligation  of  obedience  to  the  laws.  At  the  same  time 
that  citizenship  is  and  must  be  the  panoply  and  safeguard  of 
him  who  wears  it,  and  protect  him,  whether  high  or  low,  rich 
or  poor,  in  all  his  civil  rights.  It  should  and  must  afford  him 
protection  at  home,  and  follow  and  protect  him  abroad,  in 
whatever  land  he  may  be,  on  a  lawful  errand. 

CIVIL-SERVICE  REFORM. 

The  men  who  abandoned  the  Republican  party  in  1884  and 
continue  to  adhere  to  the  Democratic  party  have  deserted  not 
only  the  cause  of  honest  government,  of  sound  finance,  of 
freedom,  of  purity  of  the  ballot,  but  especially  have  deserted 
the  cause  of  reform  in  the  civil  service.  We  will  not  fail  to 
keep  our  pledges  because  they  have  broken  theirs,  or  because 
their  candidate  has  broken  his.  We  therefore  repeat  our  dec- 
laration of  1884,  to  wit:  "  The  reform  of  the  civil  service, 
auspiciously  begun  under  the  Republican  administration, 
should  be  completed  by  the  further  extension  of  the  reform 
system,  already  established  by  law,  to  all  the  grades  of  the 
service  to  which  it  is  applicable.  The  spirit  and  purpose  of 
the  reform  should  be  observed  in  all  executive  appointments, 
and  all  laws  at  variance  with  the  object  of  existing  reform 
legislation  should  be  repealed,  to  the  end  that  the  dangers  to 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  245 

free  institutions  which  lurk  in  the  power  of  official  patronage 
may  be  wisely  and  effectively  avoided. 

PENSIONS   FOB   THE   SOLDIERS. 

The  gratitude  of  the  nation  to  the  defenders  of  the  Union 
cannot  be  measured  by  laws.  The  legislation  of  Congress 
should  conform  to  the  pledge  made  by  a  loyal  people,  and  be 
so  enlarged  and  extended  as  to  provide  against  the  possibility 
that  any  man  who  honorably  wore  the  Federal  uniform  should 
become  the  inmate  of  an  almshouse,  or  dependent  upon  private 
charity.  In  the  presence  of  an  overflowing  treasury,  it  would 
be  a  public  scandal  to  do  less  for  those  whose  valorous  service 
preserved  the  government.  We  denounce  the  hostile  spirit  of 
President  Cleveland  in  his  numerous  vetoes  of  measures  for 
pension  relief,  and  the  action  of  the  Democratic  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives in  refusing  even  a  consideration  of  general  pen- 
sion legislation. 

In  support  of  the  principles  herewith  enunciated,  we  invite 
the  co-operation  of  patriotic  men  of  all  parties,  and  especially 
of  all  workingmen,  whose  prosperity  is  seriously  threatened 
by  the  free-trade  policy  of  the  present  administration. 

RESOLUTION  RELATING   TO  PROHIBITION. 

Offered  by  Mr.  Boutelle,  of  Maine: 

The  first  concern  of  all  good  government  is  the  virtue  and 
sobriety  of  the  people  and  the  purity  of  their  homes.  The 
Republican  party  cordially  sympathizes  with  all  wise  and  well- 
directed  efforts  for  the  promotion  of  temperance  and  morality. 

PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Indianapolis,  Ind. ,  May  20,  1888. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  REV.  H.  A.  DELANO, 

of  Connecticut. 

Chairman,  JOHN  P.  ST.  JOHN, 

of  Kansas. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Clinton  B.  Fisk, 

of  New  Jersey. 

For  Vice-President,  John  A.  Brooks, 

of  Missouri. 


246       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

It  was  estimated  that  there  were  at  least  4000  members 
of  the  party  present  at  this  convention,  not  including  the 
1029  delegates,  representing  nearly  all  the  states.  The 
convention  nominated  the  above-named  candidates  unani- 
mously and  by  acclamation,  and  adopted  the  following 
platform: — 

PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

i  Preamble:  The  Prohibition  party,  in  national  convention 
assembled,  acknowledging  Almighty  God  as  the  source  of  all 
power  in  government,  do  hereby  declare: 

1.  That  the  manufacture,  importation,  exportation,  transpor- 
tation, and  sale  of  alcoholic  beverages  should  be  made  public 
crimes,  and  prohibited  as  such. 

2.  That  such  prohibition  must  be  secured  through  amend- 
ments  of  our  national  and  state  constitutions,  enforced  by 
adequate  laws  adequately  supported  by  administrative  author- 
ity; and  to  this  end  the  organization  of  the  Prohibition  party 
is  imperatively  demanded  in  state  and  nation. 

3.  That  any  form  of  license,  taxation,  or  regulation  of  the 
liquor  traffic  is  contrary  to  good  government;  that  any  party 
which   supports   regulation,    license,   or   taxation   enters   into 
alliance  with  such  traffic  and  becomes  the  actual  foe  of  the 
state's    welfare;    and   that   we    arraign   the    Republican    and 
Democratic  parties  for  their  persistent  attitude  in  favor  of  the 
licensed  iniquity,   whereby   they   oppose   the   demand   of  the 
people  for  prohibition,  and,  through  open  complicity  with  the 
liquor  crime,  defeat  the  enforcement  of  law. 

INTERN"AL-RBVENUE   SYSTEM. 

4.  For  the  immediate  abolition  of  the  internal-revenue  sys- 
tem, whereby  our  national   government  is   deriving  support 
from  our  greatest  national  vice. 

IMPORT  DUTIES. 

5.  That,   an   adequate    public    revenue    being   necessary,    it 
may  be  properly  raised  by  import  duties,  imposed   on  such 
articles  of  import  as  will  give  protection  both  to  the  manu- 
facturing employer  and  producing  laborer  against  the  compe- 
tition of  the  world;   but  import  duties  should  be  so  reduced 
that  no  surplus  shall  be  accumulated  in  the  treasury;  and  that 
the  burdens  of  taxation  shall  be  removed  from  foods,  clothing, 
and  other  comforts  and  necessaries  of  life. 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  247 

EIGHT  OF  SUFFRAGE. 

6.  That  the  right  of  suffrage  rests  on  no  mere  accident  of 
race,   color,   sex,  or  nationality;    and   that  where,   from  any 
cause,  it  has  been  withheld  from  citizens  who  are  of  suitable 
age  and  mentally  and  morally  qualified  for  the  exercise  of  an 
intelligent  ballot,  it  should  be  restored  by  the  people  through 
the  legislatures  of  the  several  states,  on  such  educational  basis 
as  they  may  deem  wise. 

CIVIL  SERVICE. 

7.  That  civil-service  appointments  for  all  civil  offices,  chiefly 
clerical  in  their  duties,  should  be  based  upon  moral,  intellec- 
tual, and  physical  qualifications,  and  not  upon  party  service 
c.:-  party  necessity. 

MARRIAGE  LAWS. 

8.  For  the  abolition  of  polygamy  and  the  establishment  of 
uniform  laws  governing  marriage  and  divorce. 

MONOPOLIES. 

9.  For  prohibiting  all  combinations  of  capital  to  control  and 
to  increase  the  cost  of  products  for  popular  consumption. 

OBSERVATION  OF  SABBATH. 

10.  For  the  preservation  and  defense  of  the  Sabbath  as  a 
civil  institution,  without  oppressing  any  who  religiously  ob- 
serve the  same  on  any  other  than  the  first  day  of  the  week. 

ARBITRATION. 

11.  That  arbitration  is  the  Christian,   wise,   and   economic 
method  of  settling  national  differences,  and  the  same  method 
should,  by  judicious  legislation,  be  applied  to  the  settlement 
of  disputes  between  large  bodies  of  employees  and  their  em- 
ployers. 

LABOR  REFORM. 

That  the  abolition  of  the  saloon  would  remove  burdens, 
moral,  physical,  pecuniary,  and  social,  which  now  oppress 
labor  and  rob  it  of  its  earnings,  and  would  prove  to  be  a  wise 
and  successful  way  of  promoting  labor  reform;  and  we  invite 
labor  and  capital  to  unite  with  us  for  the  accomplishment 
thereof.  That  monopoly  in  land  is  a  wrong  to  the  people,  and 
tho  public  land  should  be  reserved  to  actual  settlers;  and  that 
men  and  women  should  receive  equal  wages  for  equal  worX. 


248       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

LAWS   OF  IMMIGRATION. 

12.  That  our  immigration  laws  should  be  so  enforced  as  to 
prevent  the  introduction  into  our  country  of  all  convicts,  in- 
mates of  other  dependent  institutions,  and  all  others  physically 
incapacitated  for  self-support;  and  that  no  person  should  have 
the  ballot  in  any  state  who  is  not  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

PROHIBITION  AS  A  NATIONAL  ISSUE. 

Recognizing  and  declaring  that  prohibition  of  the  liquor 
traffic  has  become  the  domina'nt  issue  in  national  politics,  we 
iuvito  to  full  party  fellowship  all  who  on  this  one  dominant 
issue  are  with  us  agreed,  in  the  full  belief  that  this  party  can 
and  will  remove  sectional  differences,  promote  national  unity, 
and  insure  the  best  welfare  of  our  entire  land. 


UNION  LABOR  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  May  15,  1888. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  S.  F.  NORTON, 

of  Chicago. 

Chairman,  JOHN  SEITZ. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Alson  J.  Streeter, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Samuel  Evans, 

of  Texas. 

Twenty  states  were  represented  at  this  convention  by 
about  220  delegates.  Alson  J.  Streeter,  of  Illinois,  was 
nominated  for  President  by  acclamation. 

For  Vice-President,  Samuel  Evans,  of  Texas,  was 
nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  124  votes;  44  were 
cast  for  T.  P.  Kynders,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  32  for  Charles 
E.  Cunningham,  of  Arkansas. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted  : 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  249 

UNION  LABOR  PLATFORM. 

General  discontent  prevails  on  the  part  of  the  wealth-pro- 
ducers. Farmers  are  suffering  from  a  poverty  which  has 
forced  most  of  them  to  mortgage  their  estates,  and  the  prices 
of  products  are  so  low  as  to  offer  no  relief  except  through 
bankruptcy,  and  laborers  are  sinking  into  greater  dependence. 
Strikes  are  resorted  to  without  relief,  because  of  the  inability 
of  employers  in  many  cases  to  pay  living  wages,  while  more 
and  more  are  driven  into  the  street.  Business  men  find  col- 
lections almost  impossible,  and  meantime  hundreds  of  millions 
of  the  idle  public  money,  which  is  needed  for  relief,  is  locked 
up  in  the  United  States  Treasury  or  placed,  without  interest, 
in  favored  banks,  in  grim  mockery  of  distress.  Land-monop- 
oly flourishes  as  never  before,  and  more  owners  of  the  soil 
are  daily  becoming  tenants.  Great  transportation  corporations 
still  succeed  in  extorting  their  profits  on  watered  stock  through 
unjust  charges.  The  United  States  Senate  has  become  an  open 
scandal,  Its  membership  being  purchased  by  the  rich  in  open 
defiance  of  the  popular  will.  Various  efforts  are  made  to 
squander  the  public  money,  which  are  designed  to  empty  the 
treasury  without  paying  the  public  debt.  Under  these  and 
other  alarming  conditions,  we  appeal  to  the  people  of  our 
country  to  come  out  of  old  party  organizations,  whose  indif- 
ference to  the  public  welfare  is  responsible  for  this  distress, 
and  aid  the  Union  Labor  party  to  repeal  existing  class  legisla- 
tion and  relieve  the  distress  of  our  industries,  by  establishing 
the  following  principles:  — 

LAND. 

While  we  believe  that  the  proper  solution  of  the  financial 
question  will  greatly  relieve  those  now  in  danger  of  losing 
their  homes  by  mortgages  and  foreclosures,  and  enable  all  in- 
dustrious persons  to  secure  a  home  as  the  highest  result  of 
civilization,  we  oppose  land-monopoly  in  every  form,  demand 
the  forfeiture  of  unearned  grants,  the  limitation  of  land-owner- 
ship, and  such  other  legislation  as  will  stop  speculations  in 
land  and  holding  it  unused  from  those  whose  necessities  re- 
quire it. 

We  believe  the  earth  was  made  for  the  people,  and  not  to 
enable  an  idle  aristocracy  to  subsist  through  rents  upon  the 
toil  of  the  industrious,  and  that  corners  In  land  are  as  bad  as 
corners  In  food,  and  that  those  who  are  not  residents  or 
citizens  should  not  be  allowed  to  own  lands  In  the  United 


250       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

States.    A  homestead  should  be  exempt,  to  a  limited  extent, 
from  execution  or  taxation. 

TBANSPORTATION. 

The  means  of  communication  and  transportation  shall  be 
owned  by  the  people,  as  is  the  United  States  postal  service. 

MONEY. 

The  establishment  of  a  national  monetary  system  in  the 
interest  of  the  producer,  instead  of  the  speculator  and  usurer, 
by  which  the  circulating  medium,  in  necessary  quantity  and 
full  legal  tender,  shall  be  issued  directly  to  the  people,  without 
the  intervention  of  banks,  or  loaned  to  citizens  upon  land 
security  at  a  low  rate  of  interest,  to  relieve  them  from  extor- 
tions of  usury  and  enable  them  to  control  the  money-supply. 
Postal  savings-banks  should  be  established.  While  we  have 
free  coinage  of  gold,  we  should  have  free  coinage  of  silver. 
We  demand  the  immediate  application  of  all  the  money  in  the 
United  States  Treasury  to  the  payment  of  the  bonded  debt, 
and  condemn  the  further  issue  of  interest-bearing  bonds,  either 
by  the  national  government  or  by  states,  territories,  or  muni- 
cipalities. 

LABOB. 

Arbitration  should  take  the  place  of  strikes  and  other  inju- 
rious methods  of  settling  labor  disputes.  The  letting  of  con- 
vict labor  to  contractors  should  be  prohibited,  the  contract 
system  be  abolished  in  public  works,  the  hours  of  labor  in 
industrial  establishments  be  reduced,  commensurate  with  the 
increased  production  by  labor-saving  machinery,  employees 
protected  from  bodily  injury,  equal  pay  for  equal  work  for 
both  sexes,  and  labor,  agricultural,  and  co-operative  associa- 
tions be  fostered  and  encouraged  by  law.  The  foundation  of 
a  republic  is  in  the  intelligence  of  its  citizens,  and  children 
who  are  driven  into  workshops,  mines,  and  factories  are 
deprived  of  the  education  which  should  be  secured  to  all 
by  proper  legislation. 

PENSIONS. 

We  demand  the  passage  of  a  service-pension  bill  to  every 
honorably  discharged  soldier  and  sailor  of  the  United  States. 

INCOME-TAX. 

A  graduated  income-tax  is  the  most  equitable  system  of 
taxation,  placing  the  burden  of  government  on  those  who  can 
best  afford  to  pay,  instead  of  laying  it  on  the  farmers  and  pro- 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  251 

ducers,  and  exempting  millionaire  bondholders  and  corpor- 
ations. 

UNITED   STATES   SENATE, 

We  demand  a  constitutional  amendment  making  United 
States  senators  elective  by  a  direct  vote  of  the  people. 

CONTRACT   LABOR. 

We  demand  the  strict  enforcement  of  laws  prohibiting  the/ 
importation  of  subjects  of  foreign  countries  under  contract. 

CHINESE. 

We  demand  the  passage  and  enforcement  of  such  legislation 
as  will  absolutely  exclude  the  Chinese  from  the  United  States. 

WOMAN   SUFFRAGE. 

The  right  to  vote  is  inherent  in  citizenship,  irrespective  of 
sex,  and  is  properly  within  the  province  of  state  legislation. 

PARAMOUNT  ISSUES. 

The  paramount  issues  to  be  solved  in  the  interests  of 
humanity  are  the  abolition  of  usury,  monopoly,  and  trusts, 
and  we  denounce  the  Democratic  and  Republican  parties  for 
creating  and  perpetuating  these  monstrous  evils. 


UNITED  LABOR  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  May  15,  1888. 
Chairman,  WILLIAM  B.  OGDEN, 

of  Kentucky. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Robert  H.  Cowdrey, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  W.  H.  T.  Wakefleld, 

of  Kansas. 

The  number  in  attendance  was  small,  and  it  was  rather 
a  conference  than  a  convention.  A  platform  was  adopted 
and  the  above-mentioned  nominations  were  made.  The 
following  is  the  platform  as  adopted : — 


252       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

UNITED  LABOR  PLATFORM. 

We,  the  delegates  of  the  United  Labor  party  of  the  United 
States,  in  national  convention  assembled,  hold  that  the  corrup- 
tions of  government  and  the  impoverishment  of  the  masses 
result  from  neglect  of  the  self-evident  truths  proclaimed  by 
the  founders  of  this  republic — that  all  men  are  created  equal 
and  are  endowed  with  inalienable  rights.  We  aim  at  the 
abolition  of  the  system  which  compels  men  to  pay  their  fellow- 
creatures  for  the  use  of  the  common  bounties  of  nature,  and 
permits  monopolizers  to  deprive  labor  of  natural  opportunities 
for  employment. 

FARMING  LANDS. 

We  see  access  to  farming  land  denied  to  labor  except  on 
payment  of  exorbitant  rent  or  the  acceptance  of  mortgage 
burdens,  and  labor,  thus  forbidden  to  employ  itself,  driven 
into  the  cities.  We  see  the  wage-workers  of  the  cities  sub- 
jected to  this  unnatural  competition  and  forced  to  pay  an  ex- 
orbitant share  of  their  scanty  earnings  for  cramped  and  un- 
healthful  lodgings.  We  see  the  same  intense  competition  con- 
demning the  great  majority  of  business  and  professional  men 
to  a  bitter  and  often  unavailing  struggle  to  avoid  bankruptcy, 
and  that,  while  the  price  of  all  that  labor  produces  ever  falls, 
the  price  of  land  ever  rises.  We  trace  these  evils  to  a  funda- 
mental wrong — the  making  of  the  land  on  which  all  must  live 
the  exclusive  property  of  but  a  portion  of  the  community.  To 
this  denial  of  natural  rights  are  due  want  of  employment, 
low  wages,  business  depressions,  that  intense  competition 
which  makes  it  so  difficult  for  the  majority  of  men  to  get  a 
comfortable  living,  and  that  wrongful  distribution  of  wealth 
which  is  producing  the  millionaire  on  one  side  and  the  tramp 
on  the  other. 

TAXATION   OF  LAND. 

To  give  all  men  an  interest  in  the  land  of  their  country;  to 
enable  all  to  share  in  the  benefits  of  social  growth  and  im- 
provement; to  prevent  the  shutting  out  of  labor  from  employ- 
ment by  the  monopolization  of  natural  opportunities;  to  do 
away  with  the  one-sided  competition  which  cuts  down  wages 
to  starvation  rates;  to  restore  life  to  business  and  prevent 
periodical  depressions;  to  do  away  with  that  monstrous  injus- 
tice which  deprives  producers  of  the  fruits  of  their  toil,  while 
idlers  grow  rich;  to  prevent  the  conflicts  which  are  arraying 
class  against  class,  and  which  are  fraught  with  menacing 
dangers  to  society, — we  propose  so  to  change  the  existing  sys- 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  253 

ten  of  taxation  that  no  one  shall  be  taxed  on  the  wealth  he 
produces,  nor  any  one  suffered  to  appropriate  wealth  he  does 
not  produce,  by  taking  to  himself  the  increasing  values  which 
the  growth  of  society  adds  to  land.  What  we  propose  is  not 
the  disturbing  of  any  man  in  his  holding  or  title,  but,  by  tax- 
ation of  land  according  to  its  value  and  not  according  to  its 
area,  to  devote  to  common  use  and  benefit  those  values  which 
arise  not  from  the  exertion  of  the  individual,  but  from  the 
growth  of  society,  and  to  abolish  all  taxes  on  industry  and  its 
products.  This  increased  taxation  of  land  values  must,  while 
relieving  the  working  farmer  and  small  homestead-owner  of 
the  undue  burdens  now  imposed  upon  them,  make  it  unprofit- 
able to  hold  land  for  speculation,  and  thus  throw  open  abund- 
ant opportunities  for  the  employment  of  labor  and  the  build- 
ing up  of  homes. 

A  CHANNEL  FOE  THE  SURPLUS. 

We  would  do  away  with  the  present  unjust  and  wasteful 
system  of  finance,  which  piles  up  hundreds  of  millions  of  dol- 
lars in  treasury  vaults  while  we  are  paying  interest  on  an 
enormous  debt;  and  we  would  establish  in  its  stead  a  mone- 
tary system  in  which  a  legal  tender  circulating  medium  should 
be  issued  by  the  government  without  the  intervention  of 
banks. 

GOVERNMENT  RAILROADS  AND  TELEGRAPHS. 

We  wish  to  abolish  the  present  unjust  and  wasteful  system 
of  ownership  of  railroads  and  telegraphs  by  private  corpora- 
tions— a  system  which,  while  failing  to  supply  adequately  pub- 
lic needs,  impoverishes  the  farmer,  oppresses  the  manufacturer, 
hampers  the  merchant,  impedes  travel  and  communication, 
and  builds  up  enormous  fortunes  and  corrupting  monopolies 
that  are  becoming  more  powerful  than  the  government  itself. 
For  this  system  we  would  substitute  government  ownership 
and  control  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole  people  instead  of 
private  profit. 

MEASURES   OF  RELIEF. 

While  declaring  the  foregoing  to  be  the  fundamental  princi- 
ples and  aims  of  the  United  Labor  party,  and  while  conscious 
that  no  reform  can  give  effectual  and  permanent  relief  to  labor 
that  does  not  involve  the  legal  recognition  of  equal  rights  to 
natural  opportunities,  we,  nevertheless,  as  measures  of  relief 
from  some  of  the  evil  effects  of  ignoring  those  rights,  favor 
such  legislation  as  may  tend  to  reduce  the  hours  of  labor,  to 
prevent  the  employment  of  children  of  tender  years,  to  avoid 


254-       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  competition  of  convict  labor  with  honest  industry,  to  secure 
the  sanitary  inspection  of  tenements,  factories,  and  mines, 
and  to  put  an  end  to  the  abuse  of  conspiracy  laws. 

OUR   COURT   LAWS  ATO>  EXPENSES. 

We  desire  also  to  so  simplify  the  procedure  of  our  courts 
and  diminish  the  expense  of  legal  proceedings,  that  the  poor 
may  therein  be  placed  on  an  equality  with  the  rich,  and  the 
long  delays  which  now  result  in  scandalous  miscarriages  of 
justice  may  be  prevented. 

THE  AUSTRALIAN   VOTING   SYSTEM. 

Since  the  ballot  is  the  only  means  by  which,  in  our  republic, 
the  redress  of  political  and  social  grievances  is  to  be  sought, 
we  especially  and  emphatically  declare  for  the  adoption  of 
what  is  known  as  the  Australian  system  of  voting,  in  order 
that  the  effectual  secrecy  of  the  ballot,  and  the  relief  of  can- 
didates for  public  office  from  the  heavy  expenses  now  imposed 
upon  them,  may  prevent  bribery  and  intimidation,  do  away 
with  practical  discriminations  in  favor  of  the  rich  and  un- 
scrupulous, and  lessen  the  pernicious  influence  of  money  in 
politics. 

CORRUPTION  OF  POLITICAL  PARTIES. 

We  denounce  the  Democratic  and  Republican  parties  as 
hopelessly  and  shamelessly  corrupt,  and,  by  reason  of  their 
affiliation  with  monopolies,  equally  unworthy  of  the  suffrages 
of  those  who  do  not  live  upon  public  plunder;  we  therefore 
require  of  those  who  would  act  with  us  that  they  sever  all 
connection  with  both. 

In  support  of  these  aims,  we  solicit  the  co-operation  of  all 
patriotic  citizens  who,  sick  of  the  degradation  of  politics, 
desire  by  constitutional  methods  to  establish  justice,  to  pre- 
serve liberty,  to  extend  the  spirit  of  fraternity,  and  to  elevate 
humanity. 

AMERICAN  CONVENTION. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  August  14,  1888. 
NOMINATED — 

For  President,  James  Langdon  Curtis, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  James  R.  Greer, 

of  Tennessee. 


ELECTION  OF  1888.  255 

This  convention  was  composed  of  126  delegates,  of  whom 
65  were  from  New  York  and  15  from  California.  On  the 
second  day  of  the  convention  there  was  a  contest  over  the 
apportionment  of  votes,  and  all  the  members  except  those 
from  California  and  New  York  seceded,  and  held  a  conven- 
tion of  their  own ;  but  the  seceders  made  no  nominations. 
The  delegates  from  California  and  New  York  then  adopted 
a  platform  and  made  the  above-named  nominations.  Mr. 
Greer  subsequently  declined  the  nomination. 

The  following  is  the  platform  adopted : — 

AMERICAS  PLATFOBM. 

Resolved,  That  all  law-abiding  citizens  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  whether  native  or  foreign  born,  are  politically 
equals  (except  as  provided  by  the  Constitution),  and  all  are 
entitled  to,  and  should  receive,  the  full  protection  of  the  laws. 

Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  should 
be  so  amended  as  to  prohibit  the  federal  and  state  govern- 
ments from  conferring  upon  any  person  the  right  to  vote 
unless  such  person  be  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  in  favor  of  fostering  and  encouraging 
American  industries  of  every  class  and  kind,  and  declare  that 
the  assumed  issue  "  Protection  "  vs.  "  Free  Trade  "  is  a  fraud 
and  a  snare.  The  best  "  protection  "  is  that  which  protects 
the  labor  and  life  blood  of  the  republic  from  the  degrading 
competition  with  and  contamination  by  imported  foreigners; 
and  the  most  dangerous  "  free  trade  "  is  that  in  paupers,  crim- 
inals, communists,  and  anarchists,  in  which  the  balance  has 
always  been  against  the  United  States. 

Whereas,  One  of  the  greatest  evils  of  unrestricted  foreign 
immigration  is  the  reduction  of  the  wages  of  the  American 
working-man  and  working-woman  to  the  level  of  the  underfed 
and  underpaid  labor  of  foreign  countries;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we  demand  that  no  immigrant  shall  be  ad- 
mitted into  the  United  States  without  a  passport  obtained  from 
the  American  consul  at  the  port  from  which  he  sails;  that  no 
passport  shall  be  issued  to  any  pauper,  criminal,  or  insane 
person,  or  to  any  person  who,  in  the  judgment  of  the  consul, 
is  not  likely  to  become  a  desirable  citizen  of  the  United  States; 
and  that  for  each  immigrant  passport  there  shall  be  collected 
by  the  consul  issuing  the  same  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollars, 
to  be  by  him  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  United  States. 


256       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Resolved,  That  the  present  naturalization  laws  of  the  United 
States  shall  be  unconditionally  repealed. 

Resolved,  That  the  soil  of  America  should  belong  to  Ameri- 
cans; that  no  alien  non-resident  should  be  permitted  to  own 
real  estate  in  the  United  States;  and  that  the  realty  possessions 
of  the  resident  alien  should  be  limited  in  value  and  area. 

Resolved,  That  no  flag  shall  float  on  any  public  buildings — 
municipal,  state,  or  national — in  the  United  States,  except  the 
municipal,  state,  or  national  flag  of  the  United  States — the 
flag  of  the  stars  and  stripes. 

Resolved,  That  we  reassert  the  American  principles  of  abso- 
lute freedom  of  religious  worship  and  belief,  the  permanent 
separation  of  church  and  state;  and  we  oppose  the  appropria- 
tion of  public  money  or  property  to  any  church,  or  institution 
administered  by  the  church.  We  maintain  that  all  church 
property  should  be  subject  to  taxation. 

EQUAL  RIGHTS  CONVENTION. 

Des  Moines,  Iowa,  May  15,  1888. 
Chairman,  MRS.  NETTIE  SANDFORD  CHAPIN, 

of  Iowa. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Mrs.  Belva  A.  Lockwood, 

of  the  District  of  Columbia. 

For  Vice-President,  Alfred  H.  Love, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

The  convention  was  not  largely  attended ;  proxy  ballots 
were  used.  Mrs.  Belva  A.  Lockwood,  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  Alfred  H.  Love,  of  Pennsylvania,  were 
nominated  for  President  and  Vice-President  respectively, 
each  receiving  310  votes. 

The  convention  adopted  a  platform  favoring  woman 
suffrage,  pensions  for  all  needy  soldiers  and  sailors,  pro- 
tective tariff  with  free  sugar  and  lumber,  the  repeal  of  the 
tax  on  whisky  and  tobacco,  and  opposition  to  unrestricted 
immigration. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  6,  1888. 

THIRTY-EIGHT  STATES  VOTED. 


ELECTION  OF  18S&. 


257 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Benjamin  Harrison, 
Republican. 

G  rover  Cleveland, 
Democrat. 

Clinton  B.  Fisk, 
Prohibitionist. 

Alson  J.  Streeter, 
Union  Labor. 

Total  vote. 

Alabama  

56,197 

117  320 

583 

174  100 

Arkansas  

58,752 

85  962 

641 

10613 

155  968 

124810 

117  729 

5  761 

248  306 

BO  774 

37  567 

2  191 

1  266 

91  798 

Connecticut  

74  584 

74920 

4*234 

240 

153*978 

Delaware  

12  973 

16414 

4OO 

29  787 

Florida  

20  657 

39  561 

423 

66  641 

40496 

10O  499 

1  808 

136 

142  939 

tlllinois  

37O  473 

348  278 

21  695 

7  O90 

747  536 

263  361 

261  O13 

9  881 

2  694 

536  949 

Iowa  

211  598 

179*887 

3*550 

9  1O5 

404  140 

182  i>34 

103  744 

6  768 

37  726 

331  172 

Kentucky  

155  134 

1  83*800 

5  225 

622 

344  781 

30  484 

85  032 

160 

39 

115  715 

Maine  

73  734 

5O  481 

2  691 

1  344 

1°8  250 

99  986 

106  168 

4  767 

210  921 

Massachusetts  

183  892 

151*856 

8*701 

344*449 

236  37O 

213  459 

2O  942 

4  541 

475*312 

Minnesota  

142'49° 

104  385 

15  311 

1*094 

263  282 

30  O96 

85  471 

218 

22 

115  8O7 

Missouri  

236,257 
108  4°5 

261,974 
80  552 

4,539 
9429 

18,632 
4  226 

521*402 

°02  632 

Nevada  

7*229 

5  362 

'  41 

]•>  032 

New  Hampshire  

45  728 

43458 

1  593 

13 

9O  792 

Ne  w  J  erspy  

144  344 

151  493 

7  9O4 

3O3  741 

JNew  York  

648  759 

635  757 

3O  231 

626 

1  815  878 

North  Carolina  

134  784 

147  9O2 

2*787 

32 

285  505 

Ohio  

416  O54 

306  455 

24*356 

3  496 

840*361 

.",:!  "Ml 

26  522 

1*677 

*363 

61*853 

596,091 

446  (533 

20*947 

3  873 

997*544 

Rhode  I  sland  

21  '968 

17  530 

1  250 

18 

4O*76(J 

South  Carolina  

13,736 

65,826 

79  561 

Tennessee  

138  988 

158  779 

5  969 

48 

303  784 

Texas  

88422 

23-1  >  88 

4  749 

29  459 

357  513 

1")   l!>'; 

l(i  7  »•>."> 

1  460 

63  437 

Virginia  

15O438 

ir.i  !i?7 

1*678 

304*093 

West  Virginia  

77  791 

79  664 

i  ;i  ;•  i 

1  O64 

159  188 

Wisconsin  

176,553 

155.232 

14,277 

8  552 

;5.">  l  «>ll 

Total... 

5,439,853 

5,54O  329 

249  5O6 

146  934 

11  376  622 

» 1,591  for  Curtis,  American, 

1 15O  for  Cowdrey,  United  Labor. 

J  2,268  for  Cowdroy. 


258        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL   VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  13,  1889. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT 

Number  entitled  to  vote. 

Benjamin  Harrison, 
of  Indiana. 

Grover  Cleveland, 
of  New  York. 

II 

It 

*& 

•PH 

(><H 

1C  O 
H 

Allen  G.  Thurman, 
of  Ohio. 

10 

7 

e 

3 
4 
12 

13 

8 

8 

9 
16 

9 

li 

9 
12 
13 

12 
6 

S 
3 

22 
15 
13 
9 

6 

14 
13 

7 

5 
3 
4 

36 

23 
3 
30 
4 

4 
11 

10 

7 

6 

3 
4 
12 

13 

8 

8 

9 
16 

9 

li 

9 
12 
13 

12 
6 

1O 
7 
8 
3 
6 
3 
4 
12 
22 
lo 
13 
9 
13 
8 
6 
8 
14 
13 
7 
9 
16 
5 
3 
4 
9 
36 
11 
23 
3 
30 
4 
9 
12 
13 
4 
12 
6 
11 

Arkansas  

8 
3 

Connecticut  

Florida  

Illinois  

22 
15 
13 
9 

Iowa  

Kentucky  

Maine  

6 

Massachusetts  

14 
13 

7 

Mississippi  

Nebraska  

5 
3 
4 

New  Hampshire  

New  Jersey  

36 

North  Carolina  

Ohio  

23 
3 
30 
4 

Oregon  

1'ennsylvania  

Rhode  Island  

South  Carolina  

Tennessee  

Texas  

4 

West  Virginia  ... 

Wisconsin  

11 

Total  

233 

168 

233 

168 

401 

ELECTION  OF  1888.  259 

The  count  of  electoral  votes  took  place  under  the  act  of 
February  3,  1887,  and  it  is  the  first  in  the  history  of  the 
government  under  the  Constitution  which  was  regulated 
by  a  general  law,  not  requiring  previous  concurrent  action 
by  the  two  Houses  of  Congress  for  the  time  being. 

Benjamin  Harrison  was  elected  President  and  Levi  P. 
Morton  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : — 

Fifty-first  Congress. 

Senate —  37  Democrats,    47  Republicans Total,    84 

House — 156  Democrats,  173  Republicans,  1  Independent. .     «'       330 

Fifty-second  Congress. 

Senate —  39  Democrats,  47  Republicans,    2  Alliance Total,    88 

House— 231  Democrats,  88  Republicans,  14  Populists "       833 


260       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1892 


Democratic  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  WM.  F.  HAEBITY,  of  Pennsylvania. 
Secretary,  S.  P.  SHEEKIN,  of  Indiana. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  21,  1892. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  WILLIAM  C.  OWENS, 

of  Kentucky. 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  L.  WILSON, 

of  West  Virginia. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Grover  Cleveland, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Adlai  E.  Stevenson, 

of  Illinois. 

There  was  a  prolonged  struggle  at  this  convention  over 
the  tariff  plank  of  the  platform  as  reported  by  the  Com- 
mittee on  Resolutions,  and  the  one  printed  herein  was 
substituted,  and  finally  adopted.  After  the  adoption  of 
the  platform,  the  convention  proceeded  to  nominate  a  can- 
didate for  President,  and  Grover  Cleveland,  of  New  York, 
was  nominated  on  the  first  ballot.  The  following  table 
gives  the  result  of  the  vote : 


ELECTION  OF  1892. 


261 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

GROVER  CLEVELAND, 
of  New  York  

617  y3 

WILLIAM  K.  MORRISON, 
of  Illinois  

3 

DAVID  B.  HILL,, 
of  New  York  

114 

JAMES  E.  CAMPBELL, 
of  Ohio  

2 

HORACE  BOIES, 
of  Iowa  

103 

WILLIAM  C.  WHITNEY. 
of  New  York  

1 

ARTHUR  P.  GORMAN, 
of  Maryland  

36  % 

WILLIAM  E.  RUSSELL, 
of  Massachusetts  

1 

ADLAI  STEVENSON, 
of  Illinois  

1C  "a 

ROBERT  E.  PATTISON, 

1 

JOHN  G.  CARLISLE, 

14 

Whole  number  of  votes,  909^ 
Necessary  to  a  choice     607 

But  one  ballot  was  taken  for  a  candidate  for  Vice- Presi- 
dent, which  resulted  as  follows: 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

ADLAI  E.  STEVENSON, 
of  Illinois  

4O2 

BOURKE  COCKRAN, 

5 

ISAAC  P.  GKAY, 
of  Indiana  

343 

LAMBERT  TREE, 

•^ 

ALLEN  B.  MOKSK, 
of  Michigan  

86 

HORACE  BOIES, 

JOHN  L.  MITCHELL, 
of  Wisconsin  

45 

If  KNiiv  WATTERSON, 
of  Kentucky  

26 

Whole  number  of  votes,  9O9 
Necessary  to  a  choice,     6O6 

A  motion  was  then  made  and  adopted  that  Adlai  E. 
Stevenson,  of  Illinois,  be  the  candidate  for  Vice-President. 
The  platform  adopted  by  the  convention  follows: — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

SECTION  1.  The  representatives  of  the  Democratic  party  of 
the  United  States,  in  national  convention  assembled,  do  re- 
affirm their  allegiance  to  the  principles  of  the  party  as  formu- 
lated by  Jefferson  and  exemplified  by  the  long  and  illustrious 
line  of  his  successors  in  Democratic  leadership,  from  Madison 
to  Cleveland;  we  believe  the  public  welfare  demands  that  these 
principles  be  applied  to  the  conduct  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment, through  the  accession  to  power  of  the  party  that  advo- 
cates them;  and  we  solemnly  declare  that  the  need  of  a  return 
to  these  fundamental  principles  of  a  free  popular  government. 


262       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

based  on  home  rule  and  individual  liberty,  was  never  more 
urgent  than  now,  when  the  tendency  to  centralize  all  power 
at  the  federal  capital  has  become  a  menace  to  the  reserved 
rights  of  the  states  that  strikes  at  the  very  roots  of  our  govern- 
ment, under  the  Constitution,  as  framed  by  the  fathers  of  the 
republic. 

FEDERAL  CONTROL  OF  EJECTIONS. 

SECTION  2.  We  warn  the  people  of  our  common  country, 
jealous  for  the  preservation  of  their  free  institutions,  that  the 
policy  of  federal  control  of  elections,  to  which  the  Republican 
party  has  committed  itself,  is  fraught  with  the  gravest  dangers, 
scarcely  less  momentous  than  would  result  from  a  revolution 
practically  establishing  monarchy  on  the  ruins  of  the  republic. 
It  strikes  at  the  North  as  well  as  at  the  South,  and  injures  the 
colored  citizens  even  more  than  the  white.  It  means  a  horde 
of  deputy  marshals  at  every  polling  place,  armed  with  federal 
power;  returning  boards  appointed  and  controlled  by  federal 
authority;  the  outrage  of  the  electoral  rights  of  the  people  in 
the  several  states;  the  subjugation  of  the  colored  people  to 
the  control  of  the  party  in  power,  and  the  reviving  of  race 
antagonisms  now  happily  abated,  of  the  utmost  peril  to  the 
safety  and  happiness  of  all — a  measure  deliberately  and  justly 
described  by  a  leading  Republican  senator  as  "  the  most  in- 
famous bill  that  ever  crossed  the  threshold  of  the  Senate." 
Such  a  policy,  if  sanctioned  by  law,  would  mean  the  dominance 
of  a  self-perpetuating  oligarchy  of  office-holders,  and  the  party 
first  intrusted  with  its  machinery  could  be  dislodged  from 
power  only  by  an  appeal  to  the  reserved  rights  of  the  people 
to  resist  oppression,  which  is  inherent  in  all  self-governing 
communities.  Two  years  ago  this  revolutionary  policy  was 
emphatically  condemned  by  the  people  at  the  polls;  but,  in 
contempt  of  that  verdict,  tha  Republican  party  has  defiantly 
declared,  in  its  latest  authoritative  utterance,  that  its  success 
in  the  coming  elections  will  mean  the  enactment  of  the  Force 
Bill  and  the  usurpation  of  despotic  control  over  elections  in 
all  the  states. 

Believing  that  the  preservation  of  republican  government 
in  the  United  States  is  dependent  upon  the  defeat  of  this  policy 
of  legalized  force  and  fraud,  we  invite  the  support  of  all 
citizens  who  desire  to  see  the  Constitution  maintained  in  its 
integrity,  with  the  laws  pursuant  thereto,  which  have  given 
our  country  a  hundred  years  of  unexampled  prosperity;  and  we 
pledge  the  Democratic  party,  if  it  be  intrusted  with  power, 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  263 

not  only  to  the  defeat  of  the  Force  Bill,  but  also  to  relentless 
opposition  to  the  Republican  policy  of  profligate  expenditure, 
which,  in  the  short  space  of  two  years,  has  squandered  an  enor- 
mous surplus  and  emptied  an  overflowing  treasury,  after  piling 
new  burdens  of  taxation  upon  the  already  overtaxed  labor  of 
the  country. 

TARIFF   LEGISLATION. 

SECTION  3.  We  denounce  Republican  protection  as  a  fraud — 
a  robbery  of  the  great  majority  of  the  American  people  for  the 
benefit  of  the  few.  We  declare  it  to  be  a  fundamental  prin- 
ciple of  the  Democratic  party  that  the  federal  government  has 
no  constitutional  power  to  impose  and  collect  tariff  duties, 
except  for  the  purposes  of  revenue  only,  and  we  demand  that 
the  collection  of  such  taxes  shall  be  limited  to  the  necessities 
of  the  government  when  honestly  and  economically  adminis- 
tered. 

We  denounce  the  McKinley  tariff  law  enacted  by  the  Fifty- 
first  Congress  as  the  culminating  atrocity  of  class-legislation; 
we  indorse  the  efforts  made  by  the  Democrats  of  the  present 
Congress  to  modify  its  most  oppressive  features  in  the  direc- 
tion of  free  raw  materials  and  cheaper  manufactured  goods 
that  enter  into  general  consumption,  and  we  promise  its  re- 
peal as  one  of  the  beneficent  results  that  will  follow  the  action 
of  the  people  in  intrusting  power  to  the  Democratic  party. 
Since  the  McKinley  tariff  went  into  operation  there  have  been 
ten  reductions  of  the  wages  of  the  laboring  man  to  one  in- 
crease. We  deny  that  there  has  been  any  increase  of  pros- 
perity to  the  country  since  that  tariff  went  into  operation,  and 
we  point  to  the  dullness  and  distress,  to  the  wage-reductions 
and  strikes  in  the  iron  trade,  as  the  best  possible  evidence 
that  no  such  prosperity  has  resulted  from  the  McKinley  Act. 

We  call  the  attention  of  thoughtful  Americans  to  the  fact 
that,  after  thirty  years  of  restrictive  taxes  against  the  impor- 
tation of  foreign  wealth  in  exchange  for  our  agricultural 
surplus,  the  homes  and  farms  of  the  country  have  become 
burdened  with  a  real  estate  mortgage  debt  of  over  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  million  dollars,  exclusive  of  all  other  forms 
of  indebtedness;  that  in  one  of  the  chief  agricultural  states  of 
the  West  there  appears  a  real  estate  mortgage  debt  averaging 
$165  per  capita  of  the  total  population,  and  that  similar  con- 
ditions and  tendencies  are  shown  to  exist  in  the  other  agri- 
cultural-exporting states.  We  denounce  a  policy  which  fosters 
no  industry  so  much  as  it  does  that  of  the  sheriff. 


264       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

RECIPROCITY. 

SECTION  4.  Trade-interchange  on  the  basis  of  reciprocal 
advantages  to  the  countries  participating  is  a  time-honored 
doctrine  of  the  Democratic  faith,  but  we  denounce  the  sham 
reciprocity  which  juggles  with  the  people's  desire  for  enlarged 
foreign  markets  and  freer  exchanges,  by  pretending  to  estab- 
lish closer  trade  relations  for  a  country  whose  articles  of 
export  are  almost  exclusively  agricultural  products,  with  other 
countries  that  are  also  agricultural,  while  erecting  a  custom- 
house barrier  of  prohibitive  tariff  taxes  against  the  richest 
countries  of  the  world,  that  stand  ready  to  take  our  entire 
surplus  of  products,  and  to  exchange  therefor  commodities 
which  are  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life  among  our  own 
people. 

TRUSTS   AND   COMBINATIONS. 

SECTION  5.  We  recognize  in  the  trusts  and  combinations, 
which  are  designed  to  enable  capital  to  secure  more  than  its 
just  share  of  the  joint  product  of  capital  and  labor,  a  natural 
consequence  of  the  prohibitive  taxes  which  prevent  the  free 
competition  which  is  the  life  of  honest  trade;  but  we  believe 
their  worst  evils  can  be  abated  by  law,  and  we  demand  the 
rigid  enforcement  of  the  laws  made  to  prevent  and  control 
them,  together  with  such  further  legislation  in  restraint  of 
their  abuses  as  experience  may  show  to  be  necessary. 

PUBLIC    LAND. 

SECTION  6.  The  Republican  party,  while  professing  a  policy 
of  reserving  the  public  land  for  small  holdings  by  actual 
settlers,  has  given  away  the  people's  heritage,  till  now  a  few 
railroads  and  non-resident  aliens,  individual  and  corporate, 
possess  a  larger  area  than  that  of  all  our  farms  between  the 
two  seas.  The  last  Democratic  administration  reversed  the 
improvident  and  unwise  policy  of  the  Republican  party  touch- 
ing the  public  domain,  and  reclaimed  from  corporations  and 
syndicates,  alien  and  domestic,  and  restored  to  the  people, 
nearly  100,000,000  acres  of  valuable  land,  to  be  sacredly  held  as 
homesteads  for  our  citizens,  and  we  pledge  ourselves  to  con- 
tinue this  policy  until  every  acre  of  land  so  unlawfully  held 
shall  be  reclaimed  and  restored  to  the  people. 

GOLD   AND    SILVER. 

SECTION  7.  We  denounce  the  Republican  legislation  known 
as  the  Sherman  Act  of  1890  as  a  cowardly  makeshift,  fraught 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  265 

with  possibilities  of  danger  in  the  future  which  should  make 
all  of  its  supporters,  as  well  as  its  author,  anxious  for  its 
speedy  repeal.  We  hold  to  the  use  of  both  gold  and  silver  as 
the  standard  money  of  the  country,  and  to  the  coinage  of  both 
gold  and  silver  without  discriminating  against  either  metal 
or  charge  for  mintage;  but  the  dollar  unit  of  coinage  of  both 
metals  must  be  of  equal  intrinsic  and  exchangeable  value,  or 
be  adjusted  through  international  agreement  or  by  such  safe- 
guards of  legislation  as  shall  insure  the  maintenance  of  the 
parity  of  the  two  metals  and  the  equal  power  of  every  dollar, 
at  all  times,  in  the  markets  and  in  the  payment  of  debts;  and 
we  demand  that  all  paper  currency  shall  be  kept  at  par  with 
and  redeemable  in  such  coin.  We  insist  upon  this  policy  as 
especially  necessary  for  the  protection  of  the  farmers  and 
laboring  classes,  the  first  and  most  defenseless  victims  of 
unstable  money  and  a  fluctuating  currency. 

TAX   ON  STATE  BANKS. 

SECTION  8.  We  recommend  that  the  prohibitory  10  per  cent, 
tax  on  state  bank  issues  be  repealed. 

CIVIL  SERVICE. 

SECTION  9.  Public  office  is  a  public  trust.  We  reaffirm  the 
declaration  of  the  Democratic  National  Convention  of  1876  for 
the  reform  of  the  civil  service,  and  we  call  for  the  honest 
enforcement  of  all  laws  regulating  the  same.  The  nomination 
of  a  President,  as  in  the  recent  Republican  convention,  by 
delegations  composed  largely  of  his  appointees,  holding  office 
at  his  pleasure,  is  a  scandalous  satire  upon  free  popular  insti- 
tutions, and  a  startling  illustration  of  the  methods  by  which 
a  President  may  gratify  his  ambition.  We  denounce  a  policy 
under  which  federal  office-holders  usurp  control  of  party  con- 
ventions in  the  states,  and  we  pledge  the  Democratic  party  to 
the  reform  of  these  and  all  other  abuses  which  threaten  Indi- 
vidual liberty  and  local  self-government. 

FOREIGN  POLICY. 

SECTION  10.  The  Democratic  party  is  the  only  party  that  has 
ever  given  the  country  a  foreign  policy  consistent  and  vigor- 
ous, compelling  respect  abroad  and  inspiring  confidence  at 
home.  While  avoiding  entangling  alliances,  it  has  aimed  to 
cultivate  friendly  relations  with  other  nations,  and  especially 
with  our  neighbors  on  the  American  continent,  whose  destiny 
is  closely  linked  with  our  own,  and  we  view  with  alarm  the 


266       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

tendency  to  a  policy  of  irritation  and  bluster,  which  is  liable 
at  any  time  to  confront  us  with  the  alternative  of  humiliation 
or  war.  We  favor  the  maintenance  of  a  navy  strong  enough 
for  all  purposes  of  national  defense,  and  to  properly  main- 
tain the  honor  and  dignity  of  the  country  abroad. 

SYMPATHY  FOR  THE  OPPRESSED. 

SECTION  11.  This  country  has  always  been  the  refuge  of  the 
oppressed  from  every  land — exiles  for  conscience'  sake — and, 
in  the  spirit  of  the  founders  of  our  government,  we  condemn 
the  oppression  practised  by  the  Russian  Government  upon  its 
Lutheran  and  Jewish  subjects,  and  we  call  upon  our  National 
Government,  in  the  interest  of  justice  and  humanity,  by  all 
just  and  proper  means,  to  use  its  prompt  and  best  efforts  to 
bring  about  a  cessation  of  these  cruel  persecutions  in  the 
dominions  of  the  Czar,  and  to  secure  to  the  oppressed  equal 
rights.  We  tender  our  profound  and  earnest  sympathy  to 
those  lovers  of  freedom  who  are  struggling  for  home  rule  and 
the  great  cause  of  local  self-government  in  Ireland. 

IMMIGRATION. 

SECTION  12.  We  heartily  approve  all  legitimate  efforts  to 
prevent  the  United  States  from  being  used  as  the  dumping 
ground  for  the  known  criminals  and  professional  paupers  of 
Europe,  and  we  demand  the  rigid  enforcement  of  the  laws 
against  Chinese  immigration,  or  the  importation  of  foreign 
labor  and  lessen  its  wages;  but  we  condemn  and  denounce  any 
and  all  attempts  to  restrict  the  immigration  of  the  industrious 
and  worthy  of  foreign  lands. 

PENSIONS. 

SECTION  13.  This  convention  hereby  renews  the  expression 
of  appreciation  of  the  patriotism  of  the  soldiers  and  sailors 
of  the  Union  in  the  war  for  its  preservation,  and  we  favor  just 
and  liberal  pensions  for  all  disabled  Union  soldiers,  their 
widows  and  dependents;  but  we  demand  that  the  work  of  the 
Pension  Office  shall  be  done  industriously,  impartially,  and 
honestly.  We  denounce  the  present  administration  of  that 
office  as  incompetent,  corrupt,  disgraceful,  and  dishonest. 

WATERWAYS. 

SECTION  14.  The  federal  government  shall  care  for  and  im- 
prove the  Mississippi  River  and  other  great  waterways  of  the 
republic,  so  as  to  secure  for  the  interior  states  easy  and  cheap 
transportation  to  the  tide-water.  When  any  waterway  of  the 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  267 

public  is  of  sufficient  importance  to  demand  the  aid  of  the 
government,  such  aid  should  be  extended  with  a  definite  plan 
of  continuous  work  until  permanent  improvement  is  secured. 

NICABAGTJA  CANAL. 

SECTION  15.  For  purposes  of  national  defense  and  the  pro- 
motion of  commerce  between  the  states,  we  recognize  the  early 
construction  of  the  Nicaragua  canal  and  its  protection  against 
foreign  control  as  of  great  importance  to  the  United  States. 

WORLD'S  FAIR. 

SECTION  16.  Recognizing  the  World's  Columbian  Exposi- 
tion as  a  national  undertaking  of  vast  importance,  in  which 
the  general  government  has  invited  the  co-operation  of  all  the 
powers  of  the  world,  and  appreciating  the  acceptance  by  many 
of  such  powers  of  the  invitation  so  extended,  and  the  broadest 
liberal  efforts  being  made  by  them  to  contribute  to  the  gran- 
deur of  the  undertaking,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  Congress 
should  make  such  necessary  financial  provision  as  shall  be 
requisite  to  the  maintenance  of  the  national  honor  and  public 
faith. 

EDUCATION. 

SECTION  17.  Popular  education  being  the  only  safe  basis  of 
popular  suffrage,  we  recommend  to  the  several  states  most 
liberal  appropriations  for  the  public  schools.  Free  common 
schools  are  the  nursery  of  good  government,  and  they  have 
always  received  the  fostering  care  of  the  Democratic  party, 
which  favors  every  means  of  increasing  intelligence.  Freedom 
of  education  being  an  essential  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  as 
well  as  a  necessity  for  the  development  of  intelligence,  must 
not  be  interfered  with  under  any  pretext  whatever.  We  are 
opposed  to  state  interference  with  parental  rights  and  rights 
of  conscience  in  the  education  of  children  as  an  infringement 
of  the  fundamental  Democratic  doctrine  that  the  largest  indi- 
vidual liberty  consistent  with  the  rights  of  others  insures  the 
highest  type  of  American  citizenship  and  the  best  government. 

ADMISSION   OF   TERRITORIES. 

SECTION  18.  We  approve  the  action  of  the  present  House  of 
Representatives  in  passing  bills  for  the  admission  into  the 
Union  as  states  of  the  Territories  of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona, 
and  we  favor  the  early  admission  of  all  the  territories  having 
necessary  population  and  resources  to  admit  them  to  state- 
hood; and  while  they  remain  territories,  we  hold  that  the 


268       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

officials  appointed  to  administer  the  government  of  any  terri- 
tory, together  with  the  Districts  of  Columbia  and  Alaska, 
should  be  bona  fide  residents  of  the  territory  or  district  in 
which  their  duties  are  to  be  performed.  The  Democratic  party 
Relieves  in  home  rule  and  the  control  of  their  own  affairs  by 
the  people  of  the  vicinage. 

PROTECTION  OF  RAILROAD  EMPLOYEES. 

SECTION  19.  We  favor  legislation  by  Congress  and  state 
legislatures  to  protect  the  lives  and  limbs  of  railway  em- 
ployees and  those  of  other  hazardous  transportation  com- 
panies, and  denounce  the  inactivity  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  particularly  the  Republican  Senate,  for  causing  the  defeat 
of  measures  beneficial  and  protective  to  this  class  of  wage- 
workers. 

SWEATING   SYSTEM. 

SECTION  20.  We  are  in  favor  of  the  enactment  by  the  states 
of  laws  for  abolishing  the  notorious  sweating  system;  for 
abolishing  contract  convict  labor,  and  for  prohibiting  the 
employment  in  factories  of  children  under  15  years  of  age. 

SUMPTUARY   LAWS. 

SECTION  21.  We  are  opposed  to  all  sumptuary  laws  as  an 
interference  with  the  individual  rights  of  the  citizen. 

CHANGES   ASKED. 

SECTION  22.  Upon  this  statement  of  principles  and  policies 
the  Democratic  party  asks  the  intelligent  judgment  of  the 
American  people.  It  asks  a  change  of  administration  and  a 
change  of  party,  in  order  that  there  may  be  a  change  of  system 
and  a  change  of  methods,  thus  assuring  the  maintenance  un- 
impaired of  institutions  under  which  the  republic  has  grown 
great  and  powerful. 


Republican  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  THOMAS  H.  CAKTEB,  of  Montana. 
Secretary,  Louis  E.  McCoMAS,  of  Maryland. 

Mr.  McComas  having  been  appointed  to  a  judgeship  in 
the  District  of  Columbia,  JOSEPH  H.  MANLEY,  of  Maine, 
succeeded  him. 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  269 

REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Minneapolis,  Minn.,  June  7-10,  1892. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  J.  SLOAT  FASSETT, 

of  New  York. 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  McKiNLEY,  JR., 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Benjamin  Harrison, 

of  Indiana. 

For  Vice-President,  Whitelaw  Reid, 

of  New  York. 

On  the  first  ballot  for  a  candidate  for  President,  Benjamin 
Harrison,  of  Indiana,  was  nominated  for  a  second  term. 
The  vote  stood  as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

BENJAMIN  HARBISON, 

535  J 

THOMAS  B.  REED, 

4 

JAMES  G.  BLAINE, 

182JS 

ROBERT  T.  LINCOLN. 
of  Illinois  

1 

WII/LIAM   McKiNLEY,  JR., 

of  Ohio  

182 

Whole  number  of  votes  •  .  •  • 

9O5 

Necessary  to  a  choice  

463 

For  Vice-President,  Whitelaw  Keid,  of  New  York,  was 
nominated  by  acclamation. 

The  platform  of  the  Tenth  National  Kepublican  Conven- 
tion, at  Minneapolis,  adopted  June  9,  1892,  is  as  follows : — 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  representatives  of  the  Republicans  of  the  United  States, 
assembled  in  general  convention  on  the  shores  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  the  everlasting  bond  of  an  indestructible  republic, 
whose  most  glorious  chapter  of  history  is  the  record  of  the 
Republican  party,  congratulate  their  countrymen  on  the  ma- 
jestic march  of  the  nation  under  the  banners  inscribed  with  the 


270       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

principles  of  our  platform  of  1888,  vindicated  by  victory  at  the 
polls  and  prosperity  in  our  fields,  workshops  and  mines,  and 
make  the  following  declaration  of  principles:  — 

THE  PRINCIPLE  OF  PROTECTION. 

We  reaffirm  the  American  doctrine  of  protection.  We  call 
attention  to  its  growth  abroad.  We  maintain  that  the  pros- 
perous condition  of  our  country  is  largely  due  to  the  wise 
revenue  legislation  of  the  last  Republican  Congress.  We  be- 
lieve that  all  articles  which  cannot  be  produced  in  the  United 
States,  except  luxuries,  should  be  admitted  free  of  duty,  and 
that  on  all  imports  coming  into  competition  with  the  products 
of  American  labor  there  should  be  levied  duties  equal  to  the 
difference  between  wages  abroad  and  at  home. 

We  assert  that  the  prices  of  manufactured  articles  of  general 
consumption  have  been  reduced  under  the  operations  of  the 
Tariff  Act  of  1890. 

We  denounce  the  efforts  of  the  Democratic  majority  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  to  destroy  our  tariff  laws  piecemeal, 
as  manifested  by  their  attacks  upon  wool,  lead,  and  lead  ores, 
the  chief  products  of  a  number  of  states,  and  we  ask  the  people 
for  their  judgment  thereon. 

TRIUMPH  OF  RECIPROCITY. 

We  point  to  the  success  of  the  Republican  policy  of  recipro- 
city, under  which  our  export  trade  has  vastly  increased  and 
new  and  enlarged  markets  have  been  opened  for  the  products 
of  our  farms  and  workshops.  We  remind  the  people  of  the 
bitter  opposition  of  the  Democratic  party  to  this  practical 
business  measure,  and  claim  that,  executed  by  a  Republican 
administration,  our  present  laws  will  eventually  give  us  con- 
trol of  the  trade  of  the  world. 

FREE  AND   SAFE  COINAGE  OF  GOLD  AND   SILVER. 

The  American  people,  from  tradition  and  interest,  favor 
bimetallism,  and  the  Republican  party  demands  the  use  of 
both  gold  and  silver  as  standard  money,  with  such  restrictions 
and  under  such  provisions,  to  be  determined  by  legislation,  as 
will  secure  the  maintenance  of  the  parity  of  values  of  the  two 
metals,  so  that  the  purchasing  and  debt-paying  power  of  the 
dollar,  whether  of  silver,  gold,  or  paper,  shall  be  at  all  times 
equal.  The  interests  of  the  producers  of  the  country,  its  far- 
mers and  its  workingmen,  demand  that  every  dollar,  paper,  or 
coin,  issued  by  the  government  shall  be  as  good  as  any  other. 


ELECTION  OF  1892. 

We  commend  the  wise  and  patriotic  steps  already  taken  by 
our  government  to  secure  an  international  conference  to  adopt 
such  measures  as  will  insure  a  parity  of  value  between  gold 
and  silver  for  use  as  money  throughout  the  world. 

FREEDOM   OF  THE  BALLOT. 

We  demand  that  every  citizen  of  the  United  States  shall  be 
allowed  to  cast  one  free  and  unrestricted  ballot  in  all  public 
elections,  and  that  such  ballot  shall  be  counted  and  returned 
as  cast;  that  such  laws  shall  be  enacted  and  enforced  as  will 
secure  to  every  citizen,  be  he  rich  or  poor,  native  or  foreign- 
born,  white  or  black,  this  sovereign  right,  guaranteed  by  the 
Constitution.  The  free  and  honest  popular  ballot,  the  just  and 
equal  representation  of  all  the  people,  as  well  as  their  just  and 
equal  protection  under  the  laws,  are  the  foundation  of  our 
republican  institutions,  and  the  party  will  never  relax  its 
efforts  until  the  integrity  of  the  ballot  and  the  purity  of  elec- 
tions shall  be  fully  guaranteed  and  protected  in  every  state. 

OUTRAGES   IN  THE  SOUTH. 

We  denounce  the  continued  inhuman  outrages  perpetrated 
upon  American  citizens  for  political  reasons  in  certain  South- 
ern States  of  the  Union. 

EXTENSION   OF   FOREIGN   COMMERCE. 

We  favor  the  extension  of  our  foreign  commerce,  the  restor- 
ation of  our  mercantile  marine  by  home-built  ships,  and  the 
creation  of  a  navy  for  the  protection  of  our  national  interests 
and  the  honor  of  our  flag;  the  maintenance  of  the  most 
friendly  relations  with  all  foreign  powers,  entangling  alliances 
with  none,  and  the  protection  of  the  rights  of  our  fishermen. 

MONROE   DOCTRINE. 

We  reaffirm  our  approval  of  the  Monroe  doctrine,  and  be- 
lieve in  the  achievement  of  the  manifest  destiny  of  the  republic 
in  its  broadest  sense. 

RESTRICTION   OF   IMMIGRATION. 

We  favor  the  enactment  of  more  stringent  laws  and  regula- 
tions for  the  restriction  of  criminal,  pauper,  and  contract 
immigration. 

EMPLOYEES   OF   RAILROADS. 

We  favor  efficient  legislation  by  Congress  to  protect  the  life 
and  limbs  of  employees  of  transportation  companies  engaged 
in  carrying  on  interstate  commerce,  and  recommend  legisla- 


272       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

tion   by   the   respective   states   that   will   protect   employees 
engaged  in  state  commerce,  in  mining  and  manufacturing. 

CHAMPIONING  THE  OPPRESSED. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  been  the  champion  of  the 
oppressed  and  recognizes  the  dignity  of  manhood,  irrespective 
of  faith,  color,  or  nationality.  It  sympathizes  with  the  cause 
of  home  rule  in  Ireland,  and  protests  against  the  persecution 
of  the  Jews  in  Russia. 

FREEDOM  OF   THOUGHT  AND   SPEECH. 

The  ultimate  reliance  of  free  popular  government  is  the  in- 
telligence of  the  people  and  the  maintenance  of  freedom 
among  all  men.  We  therefore  declare  anew  our  devotion  to 
liberty  of  thought  and  conscience,  of  speech  and  press,  and 
approve  all  agencies  and  instrumentalities  which  contribute 
to  the  education  of  the  children  of  the  land;  but  while  insist- 
ing upon  the  fullest  measure  of  religious  liberty,  we  are  op- 
posed to  any  union  of  church  and  state. 

TRUSTS   CONDEMNED. 

We  reaffirm  our  opposition,  declared  in  the  Republican  plat- 
form of  1888,  to  all  combinations  of  capital,  organized  in  trusts 
or  otherwise,  to  control  arbitrarily  the  condition  of  trade 
among  our  citizens.  We  heartily  indorse  the  action  already 
taken  upon  this  subject,  and  ask  for  such  further  legislation 
as  may  be  required  to  remedy  any  defects  in  existing  laws  and 
to  render  their  enforcement  more  complete  and  effective. 

FREE-DELIVERY   SERVICE. 

We  approve  the  policy  of  extending  to  towns,  villages,  and 
rural  communities  the  advantages  of  the  free-delivery  service 
now  enjoyed  by  the  larger  cities  of  the  country,  and  reaffirm 
the  declaration  contained  in  the  Republican  platform  of  1888, 
pledging  the  reduction  of  letter  postage  to  one  cent  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment  consistent  with  the  maintenance  of  the 
Postoffice  Department  and  the  highest  class  of  postal  service. 

SPIRIT   OF   CIVIL-SERVICE   REFORM. 

We  commend  the  spirit  and  evidence  of  reform  in  the  civil 
service,  and  the  wise  and  consistent  enforcement  by  the  Repub- 
lican party  of  the  laws  regulating  the  same. 

THE  NICARAGUA   CANAL. 

The  construction  of  the  Nicaragua  Canal  is  of  the  highest 
importance  to  the  American  people,  both  as  a  measure  of  de- 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  273 

fense  and  to  build  up  and  maintain  American  commerce,  and 
it  should  be  controlled  by  the  United  States  Government. 

TERRITORIES. 

We  favor  the  admission  of  the  remaining  territories  at  the 
earliest  practicable  day,  having  due  regard  to  the  interests  of 
the  people  of  the  territories  and  of  the  United  States. 

FEDERAL  TERRITORIAL  OFFICERS. 

All  the  federal  officers  appointed  for  the  territories  should 
be  selected  from  Itfrna,  fide  residents  thereof,  and  the  right  of 
self-government  should  be  accorded  as  far  as  practicable. 

ARID   LANDS. 

We  favor  cession,  subject  to  the  homestead  laws,  of  the  arid 
public  lands  to  the  states  and  territories  in  which  they  lie, 
under  such  congressional  restrictions  as  to  disposition,  reclam- 
ation, and  occupancy  by  settlers  as  will  secure  the  maximum 
benefits  to  the  people. 

THE  COLUMBIAN  EXPOSITION. 

The  World's  Columbian  Exposition  is  a  great  national  under- 
taking, and  Congress  should  promptly  enact  such  reasonable 
legislation  in  aid  thereof  as  will  insure  a  discharging  of  the 
expense  and  obligations  incident  thereto  and  the  attainment 
of  results  commensurate  with  the  dignity  and  progress  of  the 
nation. 

SYMPATHY   FOR  TEMPERANCE. 

We  sympathize  with  all  wise  and  legitimate  efforts  to  lessen 
and  prevent  the  evils  of  intemperance  and  promote  morality. 

PLEDGES  TO   THE   VETERANS. 

Ever  mindful  of  the  services  and  sacrifices  of  the  men  who 
saved  the  life  of  the  nation,  we  pledge  anew  to  the  veteran 
soldiers  of  the  republic  a  watchful  care  and  a  just  recognition 
of  their  claims  upon  a  grateful  people. 

HARRISON'S  ADMINISTRATION  COMMENDED. 
We  commend  the  able,  patriotic,  and  thoroughly  American 
administration  of  President  Harrison.  Under  it  the  country 
has  enjoyed  remarkable  prosperity,  and  the  dignity  and  honor 
of  the  nation,  at  home  and  abroad,  have  been  faithfully  main- 
tained, and  we  offer  the  record  of  pledges  kept  as  a  guarantee 
of  faithful  performance  in  the  future, 


274       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  June  29, 1892. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  P.  ST.  JOHN, 

of  Kansas. 


Chairman,  ELI  HITTER, 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  John  Bidwell, 

For  Vice-President,  J.  B.  Cranflll, 


of  Indiana. 


of  California. 


of  Texas. 


John  Bidwell,  of  California,  was  nominated  for  President 
by  the  following  vote : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

JOHN  BIDWELL, 
of  California  

590 

"W.  JENNINGS  DEMOREST, 
of  New  York  

139 

GIDEON  T.  STEWART, 
of  Ohio  

179 

H.  CLAY  BASCOM, 

3 

Whole  number  of  votes  — 
Necessary  to  a  choice  

911 

456 

As  a  candidate  for   Vice-President,  J.  B.  Cranfill,  of 
Texas,  was  chosen  by  the  following  vote : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

J.  B.  CRANFILL, 
of  Texas  

417 

THOMAS  R.  CARSKADON, 
of  West  Virginia  

19 

JOSHUA  LEVERING, 

351 

W.  TV.  SATTERLY, 
of  Minnesota  

26 

Whole  number  of  votes  .... 

811 
4O6 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  275 

PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

The  Prohibition  party,  in  national  convention  assembled, 
acknowledging  Almighty  God  as  the  Source  of  all  true  govern- 
ment, and  His  Law  as  the  standard  to  which  all  human  enact- 
ments must  conform  to  secure  the  blessings  of  peace  and 
prosperity,  presents  the  following  declaration  of  principles:  — 

LIQUOB  TRAFFIC. 

1.  The  liquor  traffic  is  a  foe  to  civilization,  the  arch  enemy 
of  popular  government,  and  a  public  nuisance.    It  is  the  citadel 
of  the  forces  that  corrupt  politics,  promote  poverty  and  crime, 
degrade  the  nation's  home-life,  thwart  the  will  of  the  people, 
and   deliver  our  country   into  the  hands  of  rapacious  class 
interests.    All  laws  that,  under  the  guise  of  regulation,  legalize 
and   protect  this  traffic,   or  make  the  government  share   its 
ill-gotten  gains,  are  "  vicious  in  principle  and  powerless  as  a 
remedy." 

We  declare  anew  for  the  entire  suppression  of  the  manufac- 
ture, sale,  importation,  exportation,  and  transportation  of 
alcoholic  liquors  as  a  beverage  by  federal  and  state  legisla- 
tion, and  the  full  powers  of  the  government  should  be  exerted 
to  secure  this  result.  Any  party  that  fails  to  recognize  the 
dominant  nature  of  this  issue  in  American  politics  is  unde- 
serving of  the  support  of  the  people. 

SUFFRAGE. 

2.  No  citizen  should  be  denied  the  right  to  vote  on  account 
of  sex,  and  equal  labor  should  receive  equal  wages,  without 
regard  to  sex. 

MONEY. 

3.  The  money  of  the  country  should  consist  of  gold,  silver, 
and  paper,  and  be  issued  by  the  general  government  only  in 
sufficient  quantities  to  meet  the  demands  of  business  and  give 
full  opportunity  for  the  employment  of  labor.    To  this  end  an 
increase  in  the  volume  of  money  is  demanded,  and  no  indi- 
vidual or  corporation  should  be  allowed  to  make  any  profit 
through  Its  Issue.    It  should  be  made  a  legal  tender  for  the 
payment  of  all  debts,  public  and  private.    Its  volume  should  be 
fixed  at  a  definite  sum  per  capita,  and  made  to  increase  with 
our  increase  in  population. 

TABIFF. 

4.  Tariff  should  be  levied  only  as  a  defense  against  the  for- 
eign governments  which  levy  tariff  upon  or  bar  out  our  pro- 


276       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

ducts  from  their  markets,  revenue  being  incidental.  The  resi- 
due of  means  necessary  to  an  economical  administration  of 
the  government  should  be  raised  by  levying  a  burden  on  what 
the  people  possess  instead  of  upon  what  they  consume. 

GOVERNMENTAL   CONTROL. 

5.  Railroad,  telegraph,  and  other  public  corporations  should 
be  controlled  by  the  government  in  the  interest  of  the  people, 
and  no  higher  charges  allowed  than  are  necessary  to  give  fair 
interest  on  the  capital  actually  invested. 

IMMIGRATION. 

6.  Foreign  immigration  has  become  a  burden  upon  industry, 
one  of  the  factors  in  depressing  wages  and  causing  discontent; 
therefore  our  immigration  laws  should  be  revised  and  strictly 
enforced.    The  time  of  residence  for  naturalization  should  be 
extended,  and  no  naturalized  person  should  be  allowed  to  vote 
until  one  year  after  he  becomes  a  citizen. 

ALIEN   OWNERSHIP. 

7.  Non-resident  aliens  should  not  be  allowed  to  acquire  land 
in  this  country,  and  we  favor  the  limitation  of  individual  and 
corporate  ownership  of  land.    All  unearned  grants  of  land  to 
railroad  companies  or  other  corporations  should  be  reclaimed. 

MOB  LAWS. 

8.  Years  of  inaction  and  treachery  on  the  part  of  the  Repub- 
lican  and   Democratic  parties   have   resulted   in   the   present 
reign  of  mob  law,  and  we  demand  that  every  citizen  be  pro- 
tected in  the  right  of  trial  by  constitutional  tribunals. 

SABBATH. 

9.  All  men  should  be  protected  by  law  in  their  right  to  one 
day's  rest  in  seven. 

ARBITRATION. 

10.  Arbitration    is    the    wisest    and    most    economical    and 
humane  method  of  settling  national  differences. 

MARGINS,  TRUSTS,  AND  COMBINES. 

11.  Speculation  in  margins,  the  cornering  of  grain,  money, 
and  products,  and  the  formation  of  pools,  trusts,  and  combi- 
nations for  the  arbitrary  advancement  of  prices  should  be  sup- 
pressed. 


ELECTION  orf  1892.  277 

PENSIONS. 

12.  We  pledge  that  the  Prohibition  party,  if  elected  to  power, 
will  ever  grant  just  pensions  to  disabled  veterans  of  the  Union 
Army  and  Navy,  their  widows  and  orphans. 

PUBLIC   SCHOOLS. 

13.  We  stand  unequivocally  for  the  American  public  school, 
and  are  opposed  to  any  appropriation  of  any  public  moneys  for 
sectarian  schools.    We  declare  that  only  by  united  support  of 
such  common  schools,  taught  in  the  English  language,  can  we 
hope  to  become  and  remain  a  homogeneous  and  harmonious 
people. 

NATIONAL  ISSUES. 

14.  We  arraign  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties  as 
false  to  the  standards  reared  by  their  founders;  as  faithless  to 
the  principles  of  the  illustrious  leaders  of  the  past  to  Whom 
they  do  homage  with  the  lips;  as  recreant  to  the  "  higher  law," 
which  is  as  inflexible  in  political  affairs  as  in  personal  life,  and 
as  no  longer  embodying  the  aspirations  of  the  American  people 
or  inviting  the  confidence  of  enlightened  progressive  patriot- 
ism.   Their  protest  against  the  admission  of  "  moral  issues  " 
into  politics  is  a  confession  of  their  own  moral  degeneracy. 
The  declaration  of  an  eminent  authority  that  municipal  mis- 
rule is  "  the  one  conspicuous  failure  of  American  politics " 
follows  as  a  natural  consequence  of  such  degeneracy,  and  it  is 
true  alike  of  cities  under  Republican  and  Democratic  control. 
Each  accuses  the  other  of  extravagance  in  congressional  ap- 
propriations, and  both  are  alike  guilty;  both  protest,  when  out 
of  power,  against  the  infraction  of  the  civil-service  laws,  and 
each,  when  in  power,  violates  those  laws  in  letter  and  spirit; 
each  professes  fealty  to  the  interests  of  the  toiling  masses, 
but  both  covertly  truckle  to  the  money  power  in  their  admin- 
istration of  public  affairs.    Even   the  tariff  issue,   as  repre- 
sented in  the  Democratic  Mills  Bill  and  the  Republican  Mc- 
Kinley  Bill,  is  no  longer  treated  by  them  as  an  issue  upon 
great  and  divergent  principles  of  government,  but  is  a  mere 
catering  to  different  sectional  and  class  interests.   The  attempt 
in  many  states  to  wrest  the  Australian  ballot  system  from  its 
true  purpose,  and  to  so  deform  it  as  to  render  it  extremely 
difficult  for  new  parties  to  exercise  the  rights  of  suffrage,  is 
an   outrage   upon   popular   government.    The   competition   of 
both  parties  for  the  vote  of  the  slums,  and  their  assiduous 
courting  of  the  liquor  power  and  subserviency  to  the  money 


278       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

power,  have  resulted  in  placing  those  powers  in  the  position 
of  practical  arbiters  of  the  destinies  of  the  nation.  We  renew 
our  protest  against  these  perilous  tendencies,  and  invite  all 
citizens  to  join  us  in  the  upbuilding  of  a  party  that  has  shown 
in  five  national  campaigns  that  it  prefers  temporary  defeat  to 
an  abandonment  of  the  claims  of  justice,  sobriety,  personal 
rights,  and  the  protection  of  American  homes. 

PARTY  FELLOWSHIP. 

15.  Recognizing  and  declaring  that  prohibition  of  the  liquor- 
traffic  has  become  the  dominant  issue  in  national  politics,  we 
invite  to  full  party  fellowship  all  those  who  on  this  one  domi- 
nant issue  are  with  us  agreed,  in  the  full  belief  that  this  party 
can  and  will  remove  sectional  differences,  promote  national 
unity,  and  insure  the  best  welfare  of  our  entire  land. 

WORLD'S  FAIR. 

Resolved,  That  we  favor  a  liberal  appropriation  by  the  fed- 
eral government  for  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  but 
only  on  the  condition  that  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  on 
the  grounds  be  prohibited  and  that  the  Exposition  be  kept 
closed  on  Sundays. 

FARMERS'  ALLIANCE  CONVENTION. 

Ocala,  Fla.,  December,  1890. 

The  Farmers'  Alliance  Convention  which  met  in  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  in  December,  1889,  adopted  a  plan  of  Con- 
federation wi.th  the  Knights  of  Labor  and  exchanged 
friendly  greetings  with  the  Greenback  party  and  the  Single 
Tax  party.  The  convention  at  Ocala  was  the  first  meeting 
under  this  confederation  of  party  factions,  and  it  is  noted 
here  as  of  especial  interest.  No  candidates  were  chosen, 
but  the  following  platform,  generally  known  as  the  "  Ocala 
Platform,"  was  adopted : — 

FARMERS'  ALLIANCE  PLATFORM. 

1.  We  demand  the  abolition  of  national  banks,  and  the 
substitution  of  legal  tender  treasury  notes  in  lieu  of  national 
bank  notes,  issued  in  sufficient  volume  to  do  the  business  of 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  279 

the  country  on  a  cash  system,  regulating  the  amount  needed 
on  a  per  capita  basis  as  the  business  interests  of  the  country 
expand;  and  that  all  money  issued  by  the  government  shall 
be  legal  tender  in  payment  of  all  debts,  both  public  and 
private. 

2.  We  demand  that  Congress  shall  pass  such  laws  as  shall 
eventually  prevent  the  dealing  in  futures  of  all  agricultural 
and   mechanical   productions,   preserving  a  stringent   system 
of  procedure  in  trials,  and  imposing  such  penalties  as  shall 
secure  the  most  perfect  compliance  with  the  law. 

3.  We  demand  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver. 

4.  We  demand   the   passage  of  laws  prohibiting  the   alien 
ownership  of  land,  and  that  Congress  take  early  steps  to  devise 
some  plan  to  obtain  all  lands  now  owned  by  aliens  and  foreign 
syndicates,,  and  that  all  lands  now  held  by  railroads  and  other 
corporations  in  excess  of  such  as  are  actually  used  and  needed 
by  them  be  reclaimed  by  the  government  and  held  for  actual 
settlers. 

5.  Believing  in  the  doctrine  of  equal  rights  to  all  and  special 
privileges  to  none,  we  demand  that  taxation,  national  or  state, 
shall  not  be  used  to  build  up  one  interest  or  class  at  the 
expense  of  another.    We  believe  that  the  money  of  the  country 
should  be  kept  as  much  as  possible  in  the  hands  of  the  people; 
and  hence  we  demand  that  all  revenues — national,  state,  or 
county — shall   be   limited   to   the   necessary   expenses   of   the 
government,  economically  and  honestly  administered. 

6.  We  demand  that  Congress  issue  a  sufficient  amount  of 
fractional  paper  currency  to  facilitate  exchange  through  the 
medium  of  the  United  States  mail. 

NATIONAL  PEOPLE'S  CONVENTION. 

Omaha,  Neb.,  July  2-5,  1892. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  C.  H.  ELLINGTON, 

of  Georgia. 

Chairman,  H.  L.  LOUCKS, 

of  South  Dakota. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  James  B.  Weaver, 

of  Iowa. 

For  Vice-President,  James  G.  Field, 

of  Virginia. 


280       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

This  was  the  first  national  convention  of  the  party,  and 
the  representation,  in  consequence,  was  very  irregular. 
Both  James  B.  Weaver,  of  Iowa,  and  James  G.  Field,  of 
Virginia,  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President 
respectively,  were  nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  by  large 
majorities,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  tables : 


CANDIDATES  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

Votes. 

JAMES  n  W  EAVER  of  Iowa  

995 

°(>5 

1 

LELAND  STANFORD,  of  California  

1 

1 

Whole  number  of  votes  1263 

CANDIDATES  FOR  VICE-PRESIDENT. 


Votes. 


JAMES  G.  FIELD,  of  Virginia 

BEN.  S.  TERRELL,  of  Texas 

Whole  number  of  votes, 1287 

Necessary  to  a  choice, 644 


733 
554 


The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform: — 

NATIONAL  PEOPLE'S  PLATFORM. 

Assembled  upon  the  116th  anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  the  People's  party  of  America,  in  their  first 
national  convention,  invoking  upon  their  action  the  blessing 
of  Almighty  God,  puts  forth,  in  the  name  and  on  behalf  of  the 
people  of  this  country,  the  following  preamble  and  declaration 
of  principles: 

The  conditions  which  surround  us  best  justify  our  co-opera- 
tion: we  meet  in  the  midst  of  a  nation  brought  to  the  verge  of 
moral,  political,  and  material  ruin.  Corruption  dominates  the 
ballot-box,  the  legislatures,  the  Congress,  and  touches  even 
the  ermine  of  the  bench.  The  people  are  demoralized;  most 
of  the  states  have  been  compelled  to  isolate  the  voters  at  the 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  281 

polling  places  to  prevent  universal  intimidation  or  bribery. 
The  newspapers  are  largely  subsidized  or  muzzled,  public  opin- 
ion silenced,  business  prostrated,  our  homes  covered  with 
mortgages,  labor  impoverished,  and  the  land  concentrating  in 
the  hands  of  the  capitalists.  The  urban  workmen  are  denied 
the  right  of  organization  for  self-protection;  imported  pauper- 
ized labor  beats  down  their  wages,  a  hireling  standing  army, 
unrecognized  by  our  laws,  is  established  to  shoot  them  down, 
and  they  are  rapidly  degenerating  into  European  conditions. 
The  fruits  of  the  toil  of  millions  are  boldly  stolen  to  build  up 
colossal  fortunes  for  a  few,  unprecedented  in  the  history  of 
mankind;  and  the  possessors  of  these,  in  turn,  despise  the 
republic  and  endanger  liberty.  From  the  same  prolific  womb 
of  governmental  injustice  we  breed  the  two  great  classes — 
tramps  and  millionaires. 

The  national  power  to  create  money  is  appropriated  to  en- 
rich bondholders;  a  vast  public  debt  payable  in  legal-tender 
currency  has  been  funded  into  gold-bearing  bonds,  thereby 
adding  millions  to  the  burdens  of  the  people. 

Silver,  which  has  been  accepted  as  coin  since  the  dawn  of 
history,  has  been  demonetized,  to  add  to  the  purchasing  power 
of  gold  by  decreasing  the  value  of  all  forms  of  property  as  well 
as  human  labor,  and  the  supply  of  currency  is  purposely 
abridged  to  fatten  usurers,  bankrupt  enterprise,  and  enslave 
industry.  A  vast  conspiracy  against  mankind  has  been  organ- 
ized on  two  continents,  and  it  is  rapidly  taking  possession  of 
the  world.  If  not  met  and  overthrown  at  once,  it  forebodes 
terrible  social  convulsions,  the  destruction  of  civilization  or 
the  establishment  of  an  absolute  despotism. 

We  have  witnessed  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
the  struggles  of  the  two  great  political  parties  for  power  and 
plunder,  while  grievous  wrongs  have  been  inflicted  upon  the 
suffering  people.  We  charge  that  the  controlling  influences 
dominating  both  these  parties  have  permitted  the  existing 
dreadful  conditions  to  develop  without  serious  effort  to  prevent 
or  restrain  them.  Neither  do  they  now  promise  us  any  sub- 
stantial reform.  They  have  agreed  together  to  ignore,  in  the 
coming  campaign,  every  issue  but  one.  They  propose  to  drown 
the  outcries  of  a  plundered  people  with  the  uproar  of  a  sham 
battle  over  the  tariff,  so  that  capitalists,  corporations,  national 
banks,  rings,  trusts,  watered  stock,  the  demonetization  of 
silver,  and  the  oppressions  of  the  usurers  may  all  be  lost 
sight  of,  They  propose  to  sacrifice  our  homes,  lives,  and 


282       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

children  on  the  altar  of  Mammon;  to  destroy  the  multitude  in 
order  to  secure  corruption  funds  from  the  millionaires. 

Assembled  on  the  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  the  nation, 
and  filled  with  the  spirit  of  the  grand  general  chief  who  estab- 
lished our  independence,  we  seek  to  restore  the  government 
of  the  republic  to  the  hands  of  "  the  plain  people,"  with  whose 
class  it  originated.  We  assert  our  purposes  to  be  identical 
with  the  purposes  of  the  National  Constitution,  "  to  form  a 
more  perfect  union  and  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tran- 
quillity, provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general 
welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  for  ourselves  and 
our  posterity." 

We  declare  that  this  republic  can  only  endure  as  a  free 
government  while  built  upon  the  love  of  the  whole  people  for 
each  other  and  for  the  nation;  that  it  cannot  be  pinned  to- 
gether by  bayonets;  that  the  civil  war  is  over,  and  that  every 
passion  and  resentment  which  grew  out  of  it  must  die  with 
it,  and  that  we  must  be  in  fact,  as  we  are  in  name,  one  united 
brotherhood. 

Our  country  finds  itself  confronted  by  conditions  for  which 
there  is  no  precedent  in  the  history  of  the  world.  Our  annual 
agricultural  productions  amount  to  billions  of  dollars  in  value, 
which  must  within  a  few  weeks  or  months  be  exchanged  for 
billions  of  dollars  of  commodities  consumed  in  their  produc- 
tion; the  existing  currency  supply  is  wholly  inadequate  to 
make  this  exchange.  The  results  are  falling  prices,  the  forma- 
tion of  combines  and  rings,  the  impoverishment  of  the  pro- 
ducing class.  We  pledge  ourselves  that,  if  given  power,  we 
will  labor  to  correct  these  evils  by  wise  and  reasonable  legis- 
lation in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  our  platform. 

We  believe  that  the  powers  of  government — in  other  words, 
of  the  people — should  be  expanded  (as  in  the  case  of  the  postal 
service)  as  rapidly  and  as  far  as  the  good  sense  of  an  intelli- 
gent people  and  the  teachings  of  experience  shall  justify,  to 
the  end  that  oppression,  injustice,  and  poverty  shall  eventually 
cease  in  the  land. 

While  our  sympathies  as  a  party  of  reform  are  naturally 
upon  the  side  of  every  proposition  which  will  tend  to  make 
men  intelligent,  virtuous,  and  temperate,  we  nevertheless  re- 
gard these  questions,  important  as  they  are,  as  secondary  to 
the  great  issues  now  pressing  for  solution,  and  upon  which  not 
only  our  individual  prosperity,  but  the  very  existence  of  free 
institutions  depend;  and  we  ask  all  men  to  first  help  us  to 
determine  whether  we  are  to  have  a  republic  to  administer, 
before  we  differ  aa  to  the  conditions  upon  which  it  is  to  be 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  283 

administered,  believing  ihat  the  forces  of  reform  this  day 
organized  will  never  cease  to  move  forward  until  every  wrong 
is  righted  and  equal  rights  and  equal  privileges  securely  estab- 
lished for  all  the  men  and  women  of  this  country.  We  declare, 
therefore — 

UNION   OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

1.  That  the  union  of  the  labor  forces  of  the  United  States 
this  day  consummated  shall  be  permanent  and  perpetual:  may. 
its  spirit  enter  into  all  hearts  for  the  salvation  of  the  republic 
and  the  uplifting  of  mankind! 

2.  Wealth  belongs  to  him  who  creates  it,  and  every  dollar 
taken  from  industry  without  an  equivalent  is  robbery.    "  If 
any  will  not  work,  neither  shall  he  eat."    The  interests  of 
rural  and  civic  labor  are  the  same;  their  enemies  are  identical. 

3.  We  believe  that  the  time  has  come  when  the  railroad  cor- 
porations will  either  own  the  people  or  the  people  must  own 
the  railroads;  and  should  the  government  enter  upon  the  work 
of  owning  and  managing  all  railroads,   we  should  favor  an 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  by  which  all  persons  engaged 
in   the   government    service    shall   be    placed    under   a    civil- 
service  regulation  of  the  most  rigid  character,  so  as  to  pre- 
vent the  increase  of  the  power  of  the  national  administration 
by  the  use  of  such  additional  government  employees. 

THE   QUESTION  OF  FINANCE. 

We  demand  a  national  currency,  safe,  sound,  and  flexible, 
issued  by  the  general  government  only,  a  full  legal  tender  for 
all  debts,  public  and  private,  and  that  without  the  use  of 
banking  corporations;  a  just,  equitable,  and  efficient  means  of 
distribution  direct  to  the  people,  at  a  tax  not  to  exceed  two 
per  cent,  per  annum,  to  be  provided  as  set  forth  in  the  sub- 
treasury  plan  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  or  a  better  system; 
also,  by  payments  in  discharge  of  its  obligations  for  public 
improvements. 

We  demand  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  and  gold 
at  the  present  legal  ratio  of  sixteen  to  one. 

We  demand  that  the  amount  of  circulating  medium  be 
speedily  increased  to  not  less  than  $50  per  capita. 

We  demand  a  graduated  income-tax. 

We  believe  that  the  money  of  the  country  should  be  kept 
as  much  as  possible  in  the  hands  of  the  people;  and  hence  we 
demand  that  all  state  and  national  issues  shall  be  limited  to 
the  necessary  expenses  of  the  government,  economically  and 
honestly  administered. 

We  demand  that  postal  savings-banks  be  established  by,  the 


284       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

government  for  the  safe  deposit  of  the  earnings  of  the  people 
and  to  facilitate  exchange. 

CONTROL  OF  TRANSPORTATION. 

Transportation  being  a  means  of  exchange  and  a  public  ne- 
cessity, the  government  should  own  and  operate  the  railroads 
in  the  interest  of  the  people. 

The  telegraph  and  telephone,  like  the  post-office  system, 
being  a  necessity  for  the  transmission  of  news,  should  be 
owned  and  operated  by  the  government  in  the  interest  of  the 
people. 

RECLAIMING   THE   LAND. 

The  land,  including  all  the  natural  sources  of  wealth,  is  the 
heritage  of  the  people,  and  should  not  be  monopolized  for 
speculative  purposes,  and  alien  ownership  of  land  should  be 
prohibited.  All  land  now  held  by  railroads  and  other  corpora- 
tions in  excess  of  their  actual  needs,  and  all  lands  now  owned 
by  aliens,  should  be  reclaimed  by  the  government  and  held 
for  actual  settlers  only. 

Resolved,  1.  That  we  demand  a  free  ballot  and  a  fair  count  in 
all  elections,  and  pledge  ourselves  to  secure  it  to  every  legal 
voter,  without  federal  intervention,  through  the  adoption  by 
the  states  of  the  unperverted  Australian  secret  ballot  system. 

Resolved,  2.  That  the  revenue  derived  from  a  graduated 
income-tax  should  be  applied  to  the  reduction  of  the  burdens 
of  taxation  now  levied  upon  the  domestic  industries  of  this 
country. 

Resolved,  3.  That  we  pledge  our  support  to  fair  and  liberal 
pensions  to  ex-Union  soldiers  and  sailors. 

Resolved,  4.  That  we  condemn  the  fallacy  of  protecting  Amer- 
ican labor  under  the  present  system,  which  opens  our  ports  to 
the  pauper  and  criminal  classes  of  the  world  and  crowds  out 
our  wage-earners,  and  we  denounce  the  present  ineffective  law 
against  contract  labor,  and  demand  the  further  restriction  of 
undesirable  immigration. 

Resolved,  5.  That  we  cordially  sympathize  with  the  efforts 
of  organized  workingmen  to  shorten  the  hours  of  labor,  and 
demand  a  rigid  enforcement  of  the  existing  eight-hour  law  on 
government  work,  and  ask  that  a  penalty  clause  be  added  to 
the  said  law. 

Resolved,  6.  That  we  regard  the  maintenance  of  a  large  stand- 
ing army  of  mercenaries,  known  as  the  Pinkerton  system,  as  a 
menace  to  our  liberties,  and  we  demand  its  abolition;  and  we 
condemn  the  recent  invasion  of  the  Territory  of  Wyoming  by 
the  hired  assassins  of  plutocracy,  assisted  by  federal  officers. 


ELECTION  OF  1892.  285 

Resolved,  7.  That  we  commend  to  the  thoughtful  considera- 
tion of  the  people  and  the  reform  press,  the  legislative  system 
known  as  the  initiative  and  referendum. 

Resolved,  8.  That  we  favor  a  constitutional  provision  limiting 
the  office  of  President  and  Vice-President  to  one  term,  and  pro- 
viding for  the  election  of  senators  of  the  United  States  by  a 
direct  vote  of  the  people. 

Resolved,  9.  That  we  oppose  any  subsidy  or  national  aid  to 
any  private  corporation  for  any  purpose, 

SOCIALIST-LABOR  CONVENTION. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  August  28,  1892. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Simon  Wing1, 

of  Massachusetts. 

For  Vice-President,  Charles  H.  Matchett, 

of  New  York. 

At  this  convention,  nominations  were  made  as  above 
given,  and  the  following  platform  was  adopted : — 

SOCIALIST-LABOR  PLATFORM. 

Social  Demands: — 1.  Reduction  of  the  hours  of  labor  in  pro- 
portion to  the  progress  of  production. 

2.  The  United  States  shall  obtain  possession  of  the  railroads, 
canals,  telegraphs,  telephones,  and  all  other  means  of  public 
transportation  and  communication. 

3.  The  municipalities  to  obtain  possession  of  the  local  rail- 
roads, ferries,  waterworks,  gasworks,  electric  plants,  and  all 
industries  requiring  municipal  franchises. 

4.  The  public  lands  to  be  declared  inalienable.    Revocation 
of  all  land-grants  to  corporations  or  individuals,  the  condi- 
tions of  which  have  not  been  complied  with. 

5.  Legal  incorporation  by  the  states   of  local   trade-unions 
which  have  no  national  organization. 

6.  The  United  States  to  have  the  exclusive  right  to  issue 
money. 

7.  Congressional  legislation  providing  for  the  scientific  man- 
agement of  forests  and  waterways,  and  prohibiting  the  waste 
of  the  natural  resources  of  the  country. 


286       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

8.  Inventions  to  be  free  to  all;  the  inventors  to  be  remun- 
erated by  the  nation. 

9.  Progressive    income-tax    and    tax    on    inheritances;    the 
smaller  incomes  to  be  exempt. 

10.  School  education  of  all  children  under  fourteen  years  of 
age   to   be   compulsory,   gratuitous,  and  accessible   to  all   by 
public  assistance  in  meals,  clothing,  books,  etc.,  where  neces- 
sary. 

11.  Repeal  of  all  pauper,  tramp,  conspiracy,  and  sumptuary 
laws.     Unabridged  right  of  combination. 

12.  Official    statistics    concerning    the    condition    of    labor. 
Prohibition  of  the  employment  of  children  of  school  age,  and 
of  the  employment  of  female  labor  in  occupations  detrimental 
to  health   or  morality.    Abolition  of  the   convict  labor  con- 
tract system. 

13.  All  wages  to  be  paid  in  lawful  money  of  the  United 
States.    Equalization  of  women's  wages   with  those   of  men 
where  equal  service  is  performed. 

14.  Laws  for  the  protection  of  life  and  limb  in  all  occupa- 
tions, and  an  efficient  employers'  liability  law. 

Political  Demands: — 1.  The  people  to  have  the  right  to  pro- 
pose laws  and  to  vote  upon  all  measures  of  importance,  ac- 
cording to  the  referendum  principle. 

2.  Abolition  of  the  Presidency,  Vice-Presidency,  and  Senate 
of  the  United  States.    An  Executive  Board  to  be  established, 
whose  members  are  to  be  elected,  and  may  at  any  time  be 
recalled,  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  as  the  only  legis- 
lative body.    The   states  and  municipalities  to  adopt  corre- 
sponding amendments  to  their  constitutions  and  statutes. 

3.  Municipal  self-government. 

4.  Direct  vote  and  secret  ballots  in  all  elections.    Universal 
and  equal  right  of  suffrage,  without  regard  to  color,  creed,  or 
sex.    Election   days   to   be   legal   holidays.    The   principle   of 
minority  representation  to  be  introduced. 

5.  All  public  officers  to  be  subject  to  recall  by  their  respec- 
tive constituencies. 

6.  Uniform   civil  and  criminal  law  throughout  the  United 
States.    Administration  of  justice  to  be  free  of  charge.    Abo- 
lition of  capital  punishment. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  8,  1892. 

FORTY-FOUR  STATES  VOTED,  six  new  states  having  been 
admitted  since  the  previous  election — Idaho,  Montana, 
North  and  South  Dakota,  "Washington,  and  Wyoming. 


ELECTION  OF  1892. 


287 


POPULAR    VOTE. 


STATES. 

Grover  Cleveland, 
Democrat. 

Benjamin  Harrison, 
Republican. 

James  B.  Weaver, 
Populist. 

John  Bidwell, 
Prohibitionist. 

Total 
vote.* 

Alabama  

138,138 

9,197 

85,181 

239 

232  755 

Arkansas  

87,834 

46,884 

11,831 

113 

146,662 

California  

118  293 

118,149 

25,352 

8,129 

269  923 

Colorado  

38  620 

53,584 

1  638 

93  842 

Connecticut  

82  395 

77,O25 

806 

4,O25 

164,251 

Delaware  

18  581 

18  083 

13 

565 

37  242 

Florida  

30  143 

4,843 

475 

35  461 

Georgia  

129  361 

48  3O5 

42,937 

988 

221  591 

Idaho  

8,599 

1O,520 

288 

19  107 

Illinois  

426  281 

399  288 

22  207 

25,87O 

873  646 

262  740 

255  615 

22  208 

13  O50 

553  613 

Iowa  

196  367 

219,795 

20  595 

6,402 

443  159 

Kansas  

157,237 

163,111 

4,539 

324  887 

Kentucky  

175  461 

135,441 

235OO 

6,442 

34O  844 

Louisiana  

87  922 

13,282 

13,281 

114,485 

Maine  

48  O44 

62923 

2  381 

3  O62 

116410 

Maryland  

113,866 

92,736 

796 

5,877 

213,275 

Massachusetts  

176  813 

202  814 

3210 

7,539 

39O  376 

Michigan  

202,296 

222,708 

19892 

14,O69 

458,965 

Minnesota  

1OO  920 

122  823 

29  313 

12  182 

265  238 

Mississippi  

4O,237 

1,4O6 

10  256 

910 

52.809 

Missouri  

268  398 

226  918 

41  213 

4  331 

540  860 

17  581 

18  851 

7  334 

549 

44  315 

Nebraska  

24  943 

87,227 

83*134 

4  9O2 

200,206 

Nevada  

714 

2811 

7264 

89 

1O878 

New  Hampshire  — 

42,081 
171  O42 

45,658 
156  O68 

292 
969 

1,297 
8  131 

89,328 
336  210 

New  York  

654,868 

609  350 

16429 

38  190 

1  818  837 

North  Carolina  
North  Dakota  
Ohio  

132,951 
404,  i  15 

100,342 
17,519 
405  187 

44,736 
17,700 
14  850 

2,636 
899 
26  012 

280,665 
36,118 
850  164 

Oregon  

14.243 

35  O02 

26  965 

2,281 

78  491 

Pennsylvania  

452  264 

516  Oil 

8  714 

25  123 

1  OO2  1  12 

Rhode  Island  

24,335 

26,972 

228 

1  654 

53,189 

South  Carolina  
South  Dakota  

•M  .<;<»•,! 

it.OSI 
138  874 

13,345 
84.888 
10O  331 

2.4O7 
26544 
23,477 

4'  851 

7«),1  It 
70,513 
267  533 

Texas  

239,148 

M    1  1  1 

!)'.»  (iSM 

2  165 

422  445 

Vermont  

16  325 

37  992 

43 

1    1  15 

55  775 

Virginia  

163,977 

113,262 

12.275 

2.738 

292,252 

Washinjrton  

29  8O2 

36460 

19  1  65 

2  542 

87  969 

West  Virjfinia  
Wisconsin  

84,467 

177,386 

80,293 
170  791 

4,166 
9,909 

2,145 
13  1  32 

171,071 
371  167 

s  1  .->  1 

7  722 

53O 

16  706 

Total  .  . 

.-,..-,:,(  ;'i-j.s 

.-..ITU.llMi 

1.041.021 

262.031 

I  2.0;  ',(•,.(  IS!  » 

*  Simon  Wingr,  the  Socialist- Labor  candidate,  polled  a  total  of  21,164  votes, 
which  is  included  in  the  total  vote. 


288       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL   VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  8,  1893. 


1 

STATES. 

i 
/ 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE- 
PRESIDENT. 

No.  entitled  to  vote. 

Grover  Cleveland, 
of  New  York. 

Benjamin  Harrison, 
of  Indiana. 

tT 

a> 

I 

9 
*i 

2J 

8 

io 

>-> 

Adlai  E.  Stevenson, 
of  Illinois. 

Whitelaw  Reid, 
of  New  York. 

James  G.  Field, 
of  Virginia. 

11 

8 
8 

'i 

4 

3 
10 

3 

11 
8 

8 

6 
3 

4 
13 

24 
15 

13 

8 

8 
6 

9 
17 

10 
36 
11 

'i 

13 

6 

15 
9 
9 

3 

8 

4 

4 

3 

10 

8 

11 
8 
9 
4 
6 
3 
4 
13 
3 
24 
15 
13 
10 
13 
8 
6 
8 
15 
14 
9 
9 
17 
3 
8 
3 
4 
10 
36 
11 
3 
23 
4 
32 
4 
9 
4 
12 
15 
4 
12 
4 
6 
12 
3 

A  rkansiis  

Colorado  

Connecticut  

6 
3 
4 
13 

Florida  

Ifaaho  

Illinois  

24 
15 

13 

Indiana  

Iowa  

Kentucky  

13 

8 

6 

15 
9 
9 

3 

8 

Maine  

Maryland  *.  .  . 

8 

Massachusetts  

5 

Minnesota  

9 
17 

Missouri   

Montana  

N  ebraska  

New  Hampshire  

4 

New  Jersey  

10 
36 
11 

New  York  

North  Carolina  

Ohio  

1 

22 
3 
32 

4 

4 

4 
4 

3 

i 

1 

9 

12 
15 

12 

6 
12 

22 
3 
32 
4 

4 

4 
4 

3 

i 

Pennsylvania  

Rhode  Island  

South  Carolina  

9 

.  South  Dakota  

Tennessee  

12 
15 

Texas  

Vermont  

Virginia  

12 

Washington  

West  Virginia  

6 
12 

Wisconsin   

Wyoming  . 

Total  

277 

145 

22 

277 

145 

22 

444 

ELECTION  OF  1892.  289 

Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  President  and  Adlai  E. 
Stevenson  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows: 

Fifty-third  Congress. 

Senate — 44  Democrats,  38  Republicans,  1  Independent,  2 

Alliance,  3  vacancies Total,    88 

House — 220  Democrats,  128  Republicans,  8  Populists "      856 

Fifty-fourth  Congress. 

Senate — 39  Democrats,  44  Republicans,  6  Alliance,  1 

vacancy Total,  90 

House — 104  Democrats,  245  Republicans,  1  Silverite,  7 

Populists  «  357 


290       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1896 


Democratic  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  JAMES  K.  JONES,  of  Arkansas. 
Secretary,  CHAKLES  A.  WALSH,  of  Iowa. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  July  7,  1896. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  W.  DANIEL, 

of  Virginia. 

Chairman,  STEPHEN  M.  WHITE, 

of  California. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  William  J.  Bryan, 

of  Nebraska. 

For  Vice-President,  Arthur  Sewall, 

of  Maine. 

There  were  930  delegates  present  at  this  convention.    A 
spirited  contest  took  place  for  the  temporary  chairmanship 


ELECTION  OF  1896. 


291 


of  the  convention,  which  resulted  as  above  stated.  There 
was  much  discussion  occasioned  by  the  financial  plunk  of 
the  platform,  and  many  motions  to  amend  were  made ;  but 
the  platform  was  finally  adopted  as  at  first  reported,  by  the 
vote  of  628  to  301.  William  J.  Bryan,  of  Nebraska,  was 
nominated  for  President  on  the  fifth  ballot.  This  was 
accomplished  by  78  delegates  transferring  their  votes  to 
Mr.  Bryan  after  the  roll-call  was  completed,  but  before  the 
result  was  announced.  The  following  is  the  vote  in  detail: 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

WILLIAM  J.  BRYAN, 
of  Nebraska  

119 

19O 

219 

280 

5OO 

RICHARD  P.  BLAND, 
of  Missouri  

235 

283 

291 

241 

1O6 

ROBERT  B.  PATTISON, 
of  Pennsylvania  

95 

1OO 

97 

97 

95 

HORACE  BOIES, 

85 

41 

36 

33 

26 

JOSEPH  8.  C.  BLACKBURN, 

83 

41 

27 

27 

JOSEPH  R.  MCLEAN, 
of  Ohio  

54 

53 

54 

46 

CLAUDE  MATTHEWS, 

37 

33 

34 

36 

31 

BENJAMIN  R.  TILLMAN, 

17 

SYLVESTER  PENNOYER, 
of  Oregon  

8 

8 

HENRY  M.  TELLER, 
of  Colorado  

8 

8 

ADLAI  E.  STEVENSON, 
of  Illinois  

7 

10 

9 

8 

8 

WILLIAM  E.  RUSSELL, 
of  Massachusetts  

2 

JAMES  E.  CAMPBELL, 
of  Ohio  

1 

DAVID  B.  HILL, 
of  New  York  

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

DAVID  TUN  PIE, 

1 

178 

162 

162 

162 

162 

Whole  number  of  vot^s  

752 

768 

768 

769 

768 

5O2 

612 

612 

613 

512 

For    Vice-President,    Arthur    Sewall,    of    Maine,    was 
nominated  on  the  fifth  ballot,  as  follows : 


292       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

ARTHUR  SEWALL, 
of  Maine  

10O 

37 

97 

261 

568 

JOSEPH  C.  SIBLEY, 
of  Pennsylvania  

163 

113 

50 

JOSEPH  R.  MCLEAN, 
of  Ohio  

111 

158 

210 

296 

32 

GEORGE  P.  WILLIAMS, 
of  Massachusetts  

76 

16 

15 

9 

9 

RICHARD  P.  BLAND, 

62 

294 

255 

WALTER  A.  CLARK, 
of  North  Carolina  

50 

22 

22 

46 

22 

JOHN  R.  WILLIAMS, 

22 

13 

WILLIAM  F.  HARRITY, 

21 

21 

19 

11 

11 

HORACE  BOIES, 

20 

JOSEPH  S.  C.  BLACKBURN, 
of  Kentucky  

20 

JOHN  W.  DANIEL, 

11 

1 

6 

54 

36 

JAMBS  H.  LEWIS, 
of  Washington  

11 

ROBERT  E.  PATTISON, 

1 

1 

1 

1 

HENRY  M.  TELLER, 

1 

STEPHEN  M.  WHITE, 
of  California  

1 

GEORGE  W.  FITHIAN, 

1 

Not  voting  

260 

255 

255 

253 

251 

Whole  number  of  votes  

670 

675 

675 

677 

679 

447 

450 

45O 

452 

453 

The  contention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

We,  the  Democrats  of  the  United  States,  in  national  conven- 
tion assembled,  do  reaffirm  our  allegiance  to  those  great  essen- 
tial principles  of  justice  and  liberty  upon  which  our  institu- 
tions are  founded,  and  which  the  Democratic  party  has  advo- 
cated from  Jefferson's  time  to  our  own — freedom  of  speech, 
freedom  of  the  press,  freedom  of  conscience,  the  preservation 
of  personal  rights,  the  equality  of  all  citizens  before  the  law, 
and  the  faithful  observance  of  constitutional  limitations. 

During  all  these  years  the  Democratic  party  has  resisted  the 
tendency  of  selfish  interests  to  the  centralization  of  govern- 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  203 

mental  power,  and  steadfastly  maintained  the  integrity  of  the 
dual  system  of  government  established  by  the  founders  of  this 
republic  of  republics.  Under  its  guidance  and  teachings  the 
great  principle  of  local  self-government  has  found  its  best 
expression  in  the  maintenance  of  the  rights  of  the  states  and 
in  its  assertion  of  the  necessity  of  confining  the  general  gov- 
ernment to  the  exercise  of  the  powers  granted  by  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  guarantees  to  every 
citizen  the  rights  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  The  Demo- 
cratic party  has  always  been  the  exponent  of  political  liberty 
and  religious  freedom,  and  it  renews  its  obligations  and  re- 
affirms its  devotion  to  these  fundamental  principles  of  the 
Constitution. 

THE  MOWEY  PLANK. 

Recognizing  that  the  money  question  is  paramount  to  all 
others  at  this  time,  we  invite  attention  to  the  fact  that  the 
federal  Constitution  named  silver  and  gold  together  as  the 
money  metals  of  the  United  States,  and  that  the  first  coinage 
law  passed  by  Congress  under  the  Constitution  made  the  silver 
dollar  the  monetary  unit  and  admitted  gold  to  free  coinage  at 
a  ratio  based  upon  the  silver-dollar  unit. 

We  declare  that  the  act  of  1873  demonetizing  silver  without 
the  knowledge  or  approval  of  the  American  people,  has  re- 
sulted in  the  appreciation  of  gold  and  a  corresponding  fall  in 
the  prices  of  commodities  produced  by  the  people;  a  heavy 
increase  in  the  burden  of  taxation  and  of  all  debts,  public 
and  private;  the  enrichment  of  the  money-lending  class  at 
home  and  abroad;  the  prostration  of  industry  and  impover- 
ishment of  the  people. 

We  are  unalterably  opposed  to  monometallism,  which  has 
locked  fast  the  prosperity  of  an  industrial  people  in  the  par- 
alysis of  hard  times.  Gold  monometallism  is  a  British  policy, 
and  its  adoption  has  brought  other  nations  into  financial 
servitude  to  London.  It  is  not  only  un-American  but  anti- 
American,  and  it  can  be  fastened  on  the  United  States  only  by 
the  stifling  of  that  spirit  and  love  of  liberty  which  proclaimed 
our  political  independence  in  1776  and  won  it  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution. 

We  demand  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  both  silver 
and  gold  at  the  present  legal  ratio  of  16  to  1,  without  waiting 
for  the  aid  or  consent  of  any  other  nation.  We  demand  that 
the  standard  silver  dollar  shall  be  a  full  legal  tender,  equally 


294       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AN!)  PLATFORMS. 

with  gold,  for  all  debts,  public  and  private,  and  we  favor  such 
legislation  as  will  prevent  for  the  future  the  demonetization 
of  any  kind  of  legal-tender  money  by  private  contract. 

We  are  opposed  to  the  policy  and  practice  of  surrendering 
to  the  holders  of  the  obligations  of  the  United  States  the  option 
reserved  by  law  to  the  government  of  redeeming  such  obliga- 
tions in  either  silver  coin  or  gold  coin. 

INTEREST-BEARING  BONDS. 

We  are  opposed  to  the  issuing  of  interest-bearing  bonds  of 
the  United  States  in  time  of  peace,  and  condemn  the  trafficking 
with  banking  syndicates,  which,  in  exchange  for  bonds  and  at 
an  enormous  profit  to  themselves,  supply  the  federal  treasury 
with  gold  to  maintain  the  policy  of  gold  monometallism. 

AGAINST  NATIONAL  BANKS. 

Congress  alone  has  the  power  to  coin  and  issue  money,  and 
President  Jackson  declared  that  this  power  could  not  be  dele- 
gated to  corporations  or  individuals.  We  therefore  denounce 
the  issuance  of  notes  intended  to  circulate  as  money  by  na- 
tional banks  as  in  derogation  of  the  Constitution,  and  we 
demand  that  all  paper  which  is  made  a  legal  tender  for  public 
and  private  debts,  or  which  is  receivable  for  dues  to  the 
United  States,  shall  be  issued  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  shall  be  redeemable  in  coin. 

TARIFF  RESOLUTION. 

We  hold  that  tariff  duties  should  be  levied  for  purposes  of 
revenue,  such  duties  to  be  so  adjusted  as  to  operate  equally 
throughout  the  country,  and  not  discriminate  between  class 
or  section,  and  that  taxation  should  be  limited  by  the  needs 
of  the  government,  honestly  and  economically  administered. 
We  denounce  as  disturbing  to  business  the  Republican  threat 
to  restore  the  McKinley  law,  which  has  twice  been  condemned 
by  the  people  in  national  elections,  and  which,  enacted  under 
the  false  plea  of  protection  to  home  industry,  proved  a  prolific 
breeder  of  trusts  and  monopolies,  enriched  the  few  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  many,  restricted  trade,  and  deprived  the  producers 
of  the  great  American  staples  of  access  to  their  natural 
markets. 

Until  the  money  question  is  settled  we  are  opposed  to  any 
agitation  for  further  changes  in  our  tariff  laws,  except  such 
as  are  necessary  to  meet  the  deficit  in  revenue  caused  by  the 
adverse  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  on  the  income-tax. 

\     r       f    ! 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  295 

But  for  this  decision  by  the  Supreme  Court,  there  would  be  no 
deficit  in  the  revenue  under  the  law  passed  by  a  Democratic 
Congress  in  strict  pursuance  of  the  uniform  decisions  of  that 
court  for  nearly  100  years,  that  court  having  in  that  decision 
sustained  constitutional  objections  to  its  enactment,  which 
had  previously  been  overruled  by  the  ablest  judges  who  have 
ever  sat  on  that  bench.  We  declare  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
Congress  to  use  all  the  constitutional  power  which  remains 
after  that  decision,  or  -which  may  come  from  its  reversal  by 
the  court  as  it  may  hereafter  be  constituted,  so  that  the  bur- 
dens of  taxation  may  be  equally  and  impartially  laid,  to  the 
end  that  wealth  may  bear  its  due  proportion  of  the  expense  of 
the  government. 

IMMIGRATION  AND  ARBITRATION. 

We  hold  that  the  most  efficient  way  of  protecting  American 
labor  is  to  prevent  the  importation  of  foreign  pauper  labor 
to  compete  with  it  in  the  home  market,  and  that  the  value 
of  the  home  market  to  our  American  farmers  and  artisans  is 
greatly  reduced  by  a  vicious  monetary  system  which  depresses 
the  prices  of  their  products  below  the  cost  of  production,  and 
thus  deprives  them  of  the  means  of  purchasing  the  products 
of  our  home  manufactories;  and  as  labor  creates  the  wealth 
of  the  country,  we  demand  the  passage  of  such  laws  as  may 
be  necessary  to  protect  it  in  all  its  rights. 

We  are  in  favor  of  the  arbitration  of  differences  between 
employers  engaged  in  interstate  commerce  and  their  em- 
ployees, and  recommend  such  legislation  as  is  necessary  to 
carry  out  this  principle. 

TRUSTS  AND  POOLS. 

The  absorption  of  wealth  by  the  few,  the  consolidation  of 
our  leading  railroad  systems,  and  the  formation  of  trusts  and 
pools  require  a  stricter  control  by  the  federal  government  of 
those  arteries  of  commerce.  We  demand  the  enlargement  of 
the  powers  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  and  such 
restriction  and  guarantees  in  the  control  of  railroads  as  will 
protect  the  people  from  robbery  and  oppression. 

DECLARE  FOR  ECONOMY. 

We  denounce  the  profligate  waste  of  the  money  wrung  from 
the  people  by  oppressive  taxation,  and  the  lavish  appropria- 
tions of  recent  Republican  Congresses,  which  have  kept  taxes 
high,  while  the  labor  that  pays  them  is  unemployed,  and  the 


296       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

products  of  the  people's  toil  are  depressed  in  price  till  they 
no  longer  repay  the  cost  of  production.  We  demand  a  return 
to  that  simplicity  and  economy  which  befits  a  democratic 
government,  and  a  reduction  in  the  number  of  useless  offices, 
the  salaries  of  which  drain  the  substance  of  the  people. 

FEDERAL  INTERFERENCE  EV  LOCAL  AFFAIRS. 

We  denounce  arbitrary  interference  by  federal  authorities 
in  local  affairs  as  a  violation  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  and  a  crime  against  free  institutions,  and  we  especially 
object  to  government  by  injunction  as  a  new  and  highly  dan- 
gerous form  of  oppression  by  which  federal  judges,  in  con- 
tempt of  the  laws  of  the  states  and  rights  of  citizens,  become 
at  once  legislators,  judges,  and  executioners;  and  we  approve 
the  bill  passed  at  the  last  session  of  the  United  States  Senate, 
and  now  pending  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  relative  to 
contempts  in  federal  courts,  and  providing  for  trials  by  Jury 
in  certain  cases  of  contempt. 

PACIFIC  RAILROAD. 

No  discrimination  should  be  indulged  in  by  the  government 
of  the  United  States  in  favor  of  any  of  its  debtors.  We  ap- 
prove of  the  refusal  of  the  Fifty-third  Congress  to  pass  the 
Pacific  Railroad  Funding  bill,  and  denounce  the  effort  of  the 
present  Republican  Congress  to  enact  a  similar  measure. 

PENSIONS. 

Recognizing  the  just  claims  of  deserving  Union  soldiers,  we 
heartily  indorse  the  rule  of  the  present  Commissioner  of  Pen- 
sions, that  no  names  shall  be  arbitrarily  dropped  from  the 
pension  roll;  and  the  fact  of  enlistment  and  service  should 
be  deemed  conclusive  evidence  against  disease  and  disability 
before  enlistment. 

ADMISSION  OF  TERRITORIES. 

We  favor  the  admission  of  the  Territories  of  New  Mexico, 
Arizona,  and  Oklahoma  into  the  Union  as  States,  and  we  favor 
the  early  admission  of  all  the  territories  having  the  necessary 
population  and  resources  to  entitle  them  to  statehood,  and, 
while  they  remain  territories,  we  hold  that  the  officials  ap- 
pointed to  administer  the  government  of  any  territory,  to- 
gether with  the  District  of  Columbia  and  Alaska,  should  be 
bana  fide  residents  of  the  territory  or  district  in  which  their 
duties  are  to  be  performed.  The  Democratic  party  believes 
tn  home  rule,  and  that  all  public  lands  of  the  United  States 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  297 

should  be  appropriated  to  the  establishment  of  free  homes  for 
American  citizens. 

We  recommend  that  the  Territory  of  Alaska  be  granted  a 
delegate  in  Congress,  and  that  the  general  land  and  timber 
laws  of  the  United  States  be  extended  to  said  territory. 

SYMPATHY  FOR  CUBA. 

The  Monroe  doctrine,  as  originally  declared,  and  as  inter- 
preted by  succeeding  Presidents,  is  a  permanent  part  of  the 
foreign  policy  of  the  United  States,  and  must  at  all  times  be 
maintained. 

We  extend  our  sympathy  to  the  people  of  Cuba  in  their 
heroic  struggle  for  liberty  and  independence. 

CIVIL-SERVICE  LAWS. 

We  are  opposed  to  life  tenure  in  the  public  service,  except 
as  provided  in  the  Constitution.  We  favor  appointments  based 
on  merit,  fixed  terms  of  office,  and  such  an  administration  of 
the  civil-service  laws  as  will  afford  equal  opportunities  to  all 
citizens  of  ascertained  fitness. 

THIRD-TERM   RESOLUTION. 

We  declare  it  to  be  the  unwritten  law  of  this  republic,  estab- 
lished by  custom  and  usage  of  100  years,  and  sanctioned  by 
the  examples  of  the  greatest  and  wisest  of  those  who  founded 
and  have  maintained  our  government,  that  no  man  should  be 
eligible  for  a  third  term  of  the  presidential  office. 

IMPROVEMENT   OF   WATERWAYS. 

The  federal  government  should  care  for  and  improve  the 
Mississippi  River  and  other  great  waterways  of  the  republic, 
so  as  to  secure  for  the  interior  states  easy  and  cheap  transpor- 
tation to  tidewater.  When  any  waterway  of  the  republic  is  of 
sufficient  importance  to  demand  aid  of  the  government,  such 
aid  should  be  extended  upon  a  definite  plan  of  continuous 
work  until  permanent  improvement  is  secured. 

CONCLUSION. 

Confiding  in  the  justice  of  our  cause  and  the  necessity  of  its 
success  at  the  polls,  we  submit  the  foregoing  declaration  of 
principles  and  purposes  to  the  considerate  judgment  of  the 
American  people.  We  invite  the  support  of  all  citizens  who 
approve  them  and  who  desire  to  have  them  made  effective 
through  legislation  for  the  relief  of  the  people  and  the  restor- 
ation of  the  country's  prosperity. 


298       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

Republican  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  MAECUS  A.  HANNA,  of  Ohio. 
Secretary,  WM.  M.  OSBORN,  of  Massachusetts. 

,    Mr.  Osborn  having  resigned,  CHARLES  DICK,  of  Ohio, 
was  chosen  secretary. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  16,  1896. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  CHARLES  W.  FAIRBANKS, 

of  Indiana. 

Chairman,  JOHN  M.  THURSTON, 

of  Nebraska. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  William  McKinley, 

of  Ohio. 

For  Vice-President,  Garret  A.  Hobart, 

of  New  Jersey. 

After  the  platform  had  been  adopted  by  the  convention, 
thirty-four  members  who  had  protested  against  the  financial 
plank  without  avail,  solemnly  withdrew  from  the  conven- 
tion. William  McKinley,  of  Ohio,  was  chosen  as  the  can- 
didate for  President  on  the  first  ballot,  as  is  shown  in  the 
following  table: 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

WILLIAM  MCKINLEY, 
of  Ohio  

661  % 

LEVI  P.  MORTON, 
of  New  York  

58 

THOMAS  B.  REED, 

84X 

WILLIAM  B.  ALLISON, 

35  X 

MATTHEW  S.  QUAY, 

G1X 

J.  DONALD  CAMERON, 

1 

Blank  

4 

ELECTION  OF  1896. 


299 


As  the  candidate  for  Vice-President,  Garret  A.  Hobart, 
of  New  Jersey,  was  also  chosen  on  the  first  ballot,  as  is 
shown  below : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

GARRET  A.  HOBART, 
of  New  Jersey  

535# 

CHAUNCEY  M.  DEPEW, 
of  New  York  

3 

HENRY  CLAY  EVANS, 
of  Tennessee  

277# 

JOHN  M.  THURSTON, 

2 

MORGAN  G.  BULKEUCY, 
of  Connecticut  

39 

FREDERICK  D  GRANT, 
of  New  York  

2 

JAMES  A.  WALKER, 
of  Virginia  

24 

LEVI  P.  MORTON, 
of  New  York  

1 

CHARLES  W.  LIPPITT, 
of  Rhode  Island  

8 

THOMAS  B.  REED, 
of  Maine  

3 

Necessary  to  a  choice,      448 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  as  the  platform : — 

EEPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  Republicans  of  the  United  States,  assembled  by  their 
representatives  in  national  convention,  appealing  for  the  pop- 
ular and  historical  justification  of  their  claims  to  the  match- 
less achievements  of  the  thirty  years  of  Republican  rule, 
earnestly  and  confidently  address  themselves  to  the  awakened 
intelligence,  experience,  and  conscience  of  their  countrymen 
in  the  following  declaration  of  facts  and  principles: 

For  the  first  time  since  the  Civil  War  the  American  people 
have  witnessed  the  calamitous  consequences  of  full  and  unre- 
stricted Democratic  control  of  the  government.  It  has  been  a 
record  of  unparalleled  incapacity,  dishonor,  and  disaster.  In 
administrative  management  it  has  ruthlessly  sacrificed  indis- 
pensable revenue,  entailed  an  unceasing  deficit,  eked  out 
ordinary  current  expenses  with  borrowed  money,  piled  up  the 
public  debt  by  $262,000,000  in  time  of  peace,  forced  an  adverse 
balance  of  trade,  kept  a  perpetual  menace  hanging  over  the 
redemption  fund,  pawned  American  credit  to  alien  syndicates, 
and  reversed  all  the  measures  and  results  of  successful  Repub- 
lican rule. 

In  the  broad  effect  of  its  policy  it  has  precipitated  panic, 
blighted  industry  and  trade  with  prolonged  depression,  closed 
factories,  reduced  work  and  wages,  halted  enterprise,  and 
crippled  American  production  while  stimulating  foreign  pro- 


300       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

duction  for  the  American  market.  Every  consideration  of 
public  safety  and  individual  interest  demands  that  the  govern- 
ment shall  be  rescued  from  the  hands  of  those  who  have  shown 
themselves  incapable  to  conduct  it  without  disaster  at  home 
and  dishonor  abroad,  and  shall  be  restored  to  the  party  which 
for  thirty  years  administered  it  with  unequaled  success  and 
prosperity,  and  in  this  connection  we  heartily  indorse  the 
wisdom,  the  patriotism,  and  the  success  of  the  administration 
of  President  Harrison. 


We  renew  and  emphasize  our  allegiance  to  the  policy  of 
protection  as  the  bulwark  of  American  industrial  indepen- 
dence and  the  foundation  of  American  development  and  pros- 
perity. This  true  American  policy  taxes  foreign  products  and 
encourages  home  industry;  it  puts  the  burden  of  revenue  on 
foreign  goods;  it  secures  the  American  market  for  the  Ameri- 
can producer;  it  upholds  the  American  standard  of  wages  for 
the  American  workingman;  it  puts  the  factory  by  the  side  of 
the  farm,  and  makes  the  American  farmer  less  dependent  on 
foreign  demand  and  price;  it  diffuses  general  thrift,  and 
founds  the  strength  of  all  on  the  strength  of  each.  In  its 
reasonable  application  it  is  just,  fair,  and  impartial;  equally 
opposed  to  foreign  control  and  domestic  monopoly,  to  sectional 
discrimination  and  individual  favoritism. 

We  denounce  the  present  Democratic  tariff  as  sectional,  in- 
jurious to  the  public  credit,  and  destructive  to  business  enter- 
prise. We  demand  such  an  equitable  tariff  on  foreign  imports 
which  come  into  competition  with  American  products  as  will 
not  only  furnish  adequate  revenue  for  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  government,  but  will  protect  American  labor  from 
degradation  to  the  wage  level  of  other  lands.  We  are  not 
pledged  to  any  particular  schedules.  The  question  of  rates  is 
a  practical  question  to  be  governed  by  the  conditions  of  time 
and  of  production:  the  ruling  and  uncompromising  principle 
is  the  protection  and  development  of  American  labor  and 
industry.  The  country  demands  a  right  settlement,  and  then 
it  wants  rest. 

EECIPROCITT. 

We  believe  the  repeal  of  the  reciprocity  arrangements  nego- 
tiated by  the  last  Republican  administration  was  a  national 
calamity,  and  we  demand  their  renewal  and  extension  on  such 
terms  as  will  equalize  our  trade  with  other  nations,  remove 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  301 

the  restrictions  which  now  obstruct  the  sale  of  American  pro- 
ducts in  the  ports  of  other  countries,  and  secure  enlarged 
markets  for  the  products  of  our  farms,  forests,  and  factories. 

Protection  and  reciprocity  are  twin  measures  of  Republican 
policy  and  go  hand  in  hand.  Democratic  rule  has  recklessly 
struck  down  both,  and  both  must  be  re-established.  Protec- 
tion for  what  we  produce;  free  admission  for  the  necessaries  of 
life  which  we  do  not  produce;  reciprocity  agreements  of  mutual 
interests  which  gain  open  markets  for  us  in  return  for  our 
open  market  to  others.  Protection  builds  up  domestic  indus- 
try and  trade,  and  secures  our  own  market  for  ourselves; 
reciprocity  builds  up  foreign  trade,  and  finds  an  outlet  for  our 
surplus. 

SUGAB. 

We  condemn  the  present  administration  for  not  keeping 
faith  with  the  sugar-producers  of  this  country.  The  Repub- 
lican party  favors  such  protection  as  will  lead  to  the  produc- 
tion on  American  soil  of  all  the  sugar  which  the  American 
people  use,  and  for  which  they  pay  other  countries  more  than 
$100,000,000  annually. 

WOOL  AND  WOOLENS. 

To  all  our  products — to  those  of  the  mine  and  the  fields  as 
well  as  to  those  of  the  shop  and  the  factory;  to  hemp,  to  wool, 
the  product  of  the  great  industry  of  sheep  husbandry,  as  well 
as  to  the  finished  woolens  of  the  mills — we  promise  the  most 
ample  protection. 

MERCHANT  MARINE. 

We  favor  restoring  the  American  policy  of  discriminating 
duties  for  the  upbuilding  of  our  merchant  marine  and  the  pro- 
tection of  our  shipping  in  the  foreign  carrying  trade,  so  that 
American  ships — the  product  of  American  labor,  employed  in 
American  shipyards,  sailing  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and 
manned,  officered,  and  owned  by  Americans — may  regain  the 
carrying  of  our  foreign  commerce. 

FINANCE. 

The  Republican  party  is  unreservedly  for  sound  money. 
It  caused  the  enactment  of  the  law  providing  for  the  resump- 
tion of  specie  payments  in  1879;  since  then  every  dollar  has 
been  as  good  as  gold. 

We  are  unalterably  opposed  to  every  measure  calculated  to 
debase  our  currency  or  impair  the  credit  of  our  country.  We 
are,  therefore,  opposed  to  the  free  coinage  of  silver  except  by 


302       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

international  agreement  with  the  leading  commercial  nations 
of  the  world,  which  we  pledge  ourselves  to  promote,  and  until 
such  agreement  can  be  obtained,  the  existing  gold  standard 
must  be  preserved.  All  our  silver  and  paper  currency  must  be 
maintained  at  parity  with  gold,  and  we  favor  all  measures 
designed  to  maintain  inviolably  the  obligations  of  the  United 
States  and  all  our  money,  whether  coin  or  paper,  at  the  pres- 
ent standard,  the  standard  of  the  most  enlightened  nations  of 

the  earth. 

PENSIONS. 

The  veterans  of  the  Union  Army  deserve  and  should  receive 
fair  treatment  and  generous  recognition.  Whenever  practi- 
cable, they  should  be  given  the  preference  in  the  matter  of 
employment,  and  they  are  entitled  to  the  enactment  of  such 
laws  as  are  best  calculated  to  secure  the  fulfilment  of  the 
pledges  made  to  them  in  the  dark  days  of  the  country's  peril. 
We  denounce  the  practice  in  the  Pension  Bureau,  so  reck- 
lessly and  unjustly  carried  on  by  the  present  administration, 
of  reducing  pensions  and  arbitrarily  dropping  names  from 
the  rolls,  as  deserving  the  severest  condemnation  of  the  Ameri- 
can people. 

FOREIGN   RELATION'S. 

Our  foreign  policy  should  be  at  all  times  firm,  vigorous,  and 
dignified,  and  all  our  interests  in  the  Western  Hemisphere 
carefully  watched  and  guarded.  The  Hawaiian  Islands  should 
be  controlled  by  the  United  States,  and  no  foreign  power 
should  be  permitted  to  interfere  with  them;  the  Nicaragua 
Canal  should  be  built,  owned,  and  operated  by  the  United 
States;  and  by  the  purchase  of  the  Danish  islands  we  should 
secure  a  proper  and  much  needed  naval  station  in  the  West 
Indies. 

ARMENIAN   MAS9ACBES. 

The  massacres  in  Armenia  have  aroused  the  deep  sympathy 
and  just  indignation  of  the  American  people,  and  we  believe 
that  the  United  States  should  exercise  all  the  influence  it  can 
properly  exert  to  bring  these  atrocities  to  an  end.  In  Turkey, 
American  residents  have  been  exposed  to  the  gravest  dangers 
and  American  property  destroyed.  There  and  everywhere 
American  citizens  and  American  property  must  be  absolutely 
protected  at  all  hazards  and  at  any  cost. 

MONROE   DOCTRINTS. 

We  reassert  the  Monroe  doctrine  in  its  full  extent,  and  we 
reaffirm  the  right  of  the  United  States  to  give  the  doctrine 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  Co3 

effect  by  responding  to  the  appeal  of  any  American  state  for 
friendly  intervention  in  case  of  European  encroachment.  We 
have  not  interfered  and  shall  not  interfere  with  the  existing 
possessions  of  any  European  power  in  this  hemisphere,  but 
these  possessions  must  not  on  any  pretext  be  extended.  We 
hopefully  look  forward  to  the  eventual  withdrawal  of  the 
European  powers  from  this  hemisphere,  and  to  the  ultimate 
union  of  all  English-speaking  parts  of  the  continent  by  the 
free  consent  of  its  inhabitants. 

CUBA. 

From  the  hour  of  achieving  their  own  independence,  the 
people  of  the  United  States  have  regarded  with  sympathy  the 
struggles  of  other  American  peoples  to  free  themselves  from 
European  domination.  We  watch  with  deep  and  abiding  in- 
terest the  heroic  battle  of  the  Cuban  patriots  against  cruelty 
and  oppression,  and  our  best  hopes  go  out  for  the  full  success 
of  their  determined  contest  for  liberty. 

The  Government  of  Spain  having  lost  control  of  Cuba  and 
being  unable  to  protect  the  property  or  lives  of  resident  Amer- 
ican citizens  or  to  comply  with  its  treaty  obligations,  we  be- 
lieve that  the  Government  of  the  United  States  should  actively 
use  its  influence  and  good  offices  to  restore  peace  and  give 
independence  to  the  island. 

THE  NAVY. 

The  peace  and  security  of  the  republic  and  the  maintenance 
of  its  rightful  influence  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  demand 
a  naval  power  commensurate  with  its  position  and  responsi- 
bility. We  therefore  favor  the  continued  enlargement  of  the 
navy  and  a  complete  system  of  harbor  and  seacoast  defenses. 

FOREIGN   IMMIGRATION. 

For  the  protection  of  the  quality  of  our  American  citizenship 
and  of  the  wages  of  our  workingmen  against  the  fatal  com- 
petition of  low-priced  labor,  we  demand  that  the  immigration 
laws  be  thoroughly  enforced,  and  so  extended  as  to  exclude 
from  entrance  to  the  United  States  those  who  can  neither  read 
nor  write. 

CIVII,   SERVICE. 

The  civil-service  law  was  placed  on  the  statute-book  by  the 
Republican  party,  which  has  always  sustained  it,  and  we  renew 
our  repeated  declarations  that  it  shall  be  thoroughly  and  hon- 
estly enforced,  and  extended  wherever  practicable. 


304       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

FREE  BALLOT. 

We  demand  that  every  citizen  of  the  United  States  shall  be 
allowed  to  cast  one  free  and  unrestricted  ballot,  and  that  such 
ballot  shall  be  counted  and  returned  as  cast. 

LYNCHING.S. 

We  proclaim  our  unqualified  condemnation  of  the  uncivilized 
and  barbarous  practice  well  known  as  lynching,  or  killing  of 
human  beings  suspected  or  charged  with  crime,  without  pro- 
cess of  law. 

NATIONAL  ARBITRATION. 

We  favor  the  creation  of  a  national  board  of  arbitration  to 
settle  and  adjust  differences  which  may  arise  between  em- 
ployers and  employees  engaged  in  interstate  commerce. 

HOMESTEADS. 

We  believe  in  an  immediate  return  to  the  free-homestead 
policy  of  the  Republican  party,  and  urge  the  passage  by 
Congress  of  a  satisfactory  free-homestead  measure  such  as 
has  already  passed  the  House  and  is  now  pending  in  the 
Senate. 

TERRITORIES. 

We  favor  the  admission  of  the  remaining  territories  at  the 
earliest  practicable  date,  having  due  regard  to  the  interests  of 
the  people  of  the  territories  and  of  the  United  States.  All  the 
federal  officers  appointed  for  the  territories  should  be  selected 
from  bona  fide  residents  thereof,  and  the  right  of  self-govern- 
ment should  be  accorded  as  far  as  practicable. 

ALASKA. 

We  believe  the  citizens  of  Alaska  should  have  representation 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  to  the  end  that  needful 
legislation  may  be  intelligently  enacted. 

TEMPERANCE. 

We  sympathize  with  all  wise  and  legitimate  efforts  to  lessen 
and  prevent  the  evils  of  intemperance  and  promote  morality. 

RIGHTS  OF  WOMEN. 

The  Republican  party  is  mindful  of  the  rights  and  interests 
of  women.  Protection  of  American  industries  includes  equal 
opportunities,  equal  pay  for  equal  work,  and  protection  to  the 
home.  We  favor  the  admission  of  women  to  wider  spheres  of 
usefulness,  and  welcome  their  co-operation  in  rescuing  the 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  305 

country  from  Democratic  and  Populist  mismanagement  and 
misrule. 

Such  are  the  principles  and  policies  of  the  Republican  party. 
By  these  principles  we  will  abide  and  these  policies  we  will 
put  into  execution.  We  ask  for  them  the  considerate  judg- 
ment of  the  American  people.  Confident  alike  in  the  history 
of  our  great  party  and  in  the  justice  of  our  cause,  we  present 
our  platform  and  our  candidates  in  the  full  assurance  that  the 
election  will  bring  victory  to  the  Republican  party  and  pros- 
perity to  the  people  of  the  United  States, 


PEOPLE'S  PARTY  CONVENTION. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  22,  1896. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  MARION  C.  BUTLER, 

of  North  Carolina. 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  V.  ALLEN, 

of  Nebraska. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  William  J.  Bryan, 

of  Nebraska. 

For  Vice-President,  Thomas  E.  Watson, 

of  Georgia. 

The  number  of  delegates  was  determined  by  the  strength 
of  the  party  in  state  elections.  This  was  different  from  the 
custom  prevailing  in  the  older  parties. 

The  convention  reversed  the  usual  order  of  proceedings 
at  National  Conventions,  and  nominated  the  candidate  for 
Vice-President  first.  Thomas  E.  Watson,  of  Georgia,  was 
nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  469 J  votes;  Arthur 
Sewall,  of  Maine,  received  257 J  votes.  Votes  were  also 
cast  for  Harry  Skinner,  of  North  Carolina ;  Frank  Burkett, 
of  Mississippi;  A.  L.  Minims,  of  Tennessee;  and  Mann 
Page,  of  Virginia. 


306       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


William  J.  Bryan,  of  Nebraska,  was  nominated  for  Presi- 
dent, the  ballot  resulting  as  follows: 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

WILLIAM  J.  BRYAN, 
of  Nebraska  

1042 

IGNATIUS  DONNELLY, 
of  Minnesota  

3 

S.  F.  NORTON, 
of  Illinois  

321 

J.  S.  COXEY, 
of  Ohio  

1 

EUGENE  V.  DEBS, 
of  Indiana  

8 

Whole  number  of  votes,  1375 
Necessary  to  a  choice,       688 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : 

PEOPLE'S  PARTY  PLATFORM. 

The  People's  party,  assembled  in  national  convention,  re- 
affirms its  allegiance  to  the  principles  declared  by  the  founders 
of  the  republic,  and  also  to  the  fundamental  principles  of  just 
government  as  enunciated  in  the  platform  of  the  party  in  1892. 

We  recognize  that  through  the  connivance  of  the  present 
and  preceding  administrations  the  country  has  reached  a  crisis 
in  its  national  life,  as  predicted  in  our  declaration  four  years 
ago,  and  that  prompt  and  patriotic  action  is  the  supreme  duty 
of  the  hour. 

We  realize  that,  while  we  have  political  independence,  our 
financial  and  industrial  independence  is  yet  to  be  attained  by 
restoring  to  our  country  the  constitutional  control  and  exercise 
of  the  functions  necessary  to  a  people's  government,  which 
fanctions  have  been  basely  surrendered  by  our  public  servants 
to  corporate  monopolies.  The  influence  of  European  money- 
changers has  been  more  potent  in  shaping  legislation  than 
the  voice  of  the  American  people.  Executive  power  and 
patronage  have  been  used  to  corrupt  our  legislatures  and  de- 
feat the  will  of  the  people,  and  plutocracy  has  been  enthroned 
upon  the  ruins  of  democracy. 

To  restore  the  government  intended  by  the  fathers,  and  for 
the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  this  and  future  generations,  we 
demand  the  establishment  of  an  economic  and  financial  sys- 
tem which  shall  make  us  masters  of  our  own  affairs  and  inde- 
pendent of  European  control,  by  the  adoption  of  the  following 
declaration  of  principles:— 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  307 

AS   TO  MONEY,   BONDS,  AND  INCOME-TAX. 

1.  We  demand  a  national  money,  safe  and  sound,  issued  by 
the   general   government   only,    without   the    intervention   of 
banks  of  issue,  to  be  a  full  legal  tender  for  all  debts,  public 
and  private,  and  a  just,  equitable,  and  efficient  means  of  dis- 
tribution direct  to  the  people  and  through  the  lawful  disburse- 
ments of  the  government. 

2.  We  demand  the  free  and  unrestricted  coinage  of  silver 
and  gold  at  the  present  legal  ratio  of  16  to  1,  without  waiting 
for  the  consent  of  foreign  nations. 

3.  We  demand  that  the  volume  of  circulating  medium  be 
speedily  increased  to  an  amount  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands 
of  the  business  population  of  this  country,  and  to  restore  the 
just  level  of  prices  of  labor  and  production. 

4.  We  denounce  the  sale  of  bonds  and  the  increase  of  the 
public  interest-bearing  bond  debt  made  by  the  present  admin- 
istration as  unnecessary  and  without  authority  of  law,   and 
that  no  more  bonds  be  issued  except  by  specific  act  of  Congress. 

5.  We   demand   such   legal  legislation   as   will   prevent   the 
demonetization  of  the  lawful  money  of  the  United  States  by 
private  contract. 

6.  We  demand  that  the  government,  in  payment  of  its  obli- 
gations, shall  use  its  option  as  to  the  kind  of  lawful  money  in 
which  they  are  to  be  paid,  and  we  denounce  the  present  and 
preceding  administrations  for  surrendering  this  option  to  the 
holders  of  government  obligations. 

7.  We  demand  a  graduated  income-tax,  to  the  end  that  ag- 
gregated wealth  shall  bear  its  just  proportion  of  taxation,  and 
we  denounce  the  recent  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  relative 
to  the  income-tax  law  as  a  misinterpretation  of  the  Constitu- 
tion and  an  invasion  of  the  rightful  powers  of  Congress  over 
the  subject  of  taxation. 

8.  We  demand  that  postal  savings-banks  be  established  by 
the  government  for  the  safe  deposit  of  the  savings  of  the 
people  and  to  facilitate  exchange. 

GOVERNMENT   OWNERSHIP   OF  BAILKOADS  AND   TELEGRAPH. 

1.  Transportation  being  a  means  of  exchange  and  a  public 
necessity,  the  government  should  own  and  operate  the  rail- 
roads in  the  Interest  of  the  people  and  on  a  non-partisan  basis, 


308       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

to  the  end  that  all  may  be  accorded  the  same  treatment  in 
transportation,  and  that  the  tyranny  and  political  power  now 
exercised  by  the  great  railroad  corporations,  which  result  in 
the  impairment,  if  not  the  destruction,  of  the  political  rights 
and  personal  liberties  of  the  citizens,  may  be  destroyed. 
Such  ownership  is  to  be  accomplished  gradually,  in  a  manner 
consistent  with  sound  public  policy. 

2.  The   interest   of  the   United   States  in   the   public   high- 
ways, built  with  public  moneys,  and  the  proceeds  of  extensive 
grants  of  land  to  the  Pacific  railroads  should  never  be  alien- 
ated, mortgaged,  or  sold,  but  guarded  and  protected  for  the 
general    welfare,   as   provided   by   the   laws   organizing   such 
railroads.    The    foreclosure   of   existing   liens   of   the   United 
States  on  these  roads  should  at  once  follow  default  in  the  pay- 
ment of  the  debt  of  the  companies,  and  at  the  foreclosure  sales 
of  said  roads  the  government  shall  purchase  the  same,  if  it 
become  necessary  to  protect  its  interests  therein,  or  if  they 
can  be  purchased  at  a  reasonable  price;  and  the  government 
shall  operate  said  railroads  as  public  highways,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole  and  not  in  the  interest  of  the  few,  under  suitable 
provisions  for  protection  of  life  and  property,  giving  to  all 
transportation  interests  equal  privileges  and  equal  rates  for 
fares  and  freight. 

3.  We  denounce  the  present  infamous  schemes  for  refunding 
these  debts,  and  demand  that  the  laws  now  applicable  thereto 
be  executed  and  administered  according  to  their  true  intent 
and  spirit. 

4.  The  telegraph,  like  the  post-office  system,  being  a  neces- 
sity for  the  transmission  of  news,  should  be  owned  and  oper- 
ated by  the  government  in  the  interest  of  the  people. 

LAND,   HOMES  AND  PACIFIC  RAILROAD  GRANTS. 

1.  The  true  policy  demands  that  the  national  and  state  legis- 
lation shall  be  such  as  will  ultimately  enable  every  prudent 
and  industrious  citizen  to  secure  a  home,  and  therefore  the 
land  should  not  be  monopolized  for  speculative  purposes.  All 
lands  now  held  by  railroads  and  other  corporations  in  excess 
of  their  actual  needs  should,  by  lawful  means,  be  reclaimed 
by  the  government  and  held  for  actual  settlers  only,  and  pri- 
vate land  monopoly,  as  well  as  alien  ownership,  should  be 
prohibited. 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  309 

2.  We  condemn  the  frauds  by  which  the  land-grants  to  the 
Pacific  railroad  companies  have,  through  the  connivance  of 
the  Interior  Department,  robbed  multitudes  of  bona  fide  settlers 
of  their  homes  and  miners  of  their  claims,  and  we  demand 
legislation  by  Congress  which  will  enforce  the  exemption  of 
mineral  land  from   such  grants  after  as  well  as  before  the 
patent. 

3.  We  demand  that  bona  fide  settlers  on  all  public  lands  be- 
granted  free  homes,  as  provided  in   the  national  homestead 
law,  and  that  no  exception  be  made  in  the  case  of  Indian 
reservations  when  opened  for  settlement,  and  that  all  lands 
not  now  patented  come  under  this  demand, 

DIRECT  LEGISLATION  AND  GENERAL  PLANKS. 

We  favor  a  system  of  direct  legislation  through  the  initiative 
and  referendum,  under  proper  constitutional  safeguards. 

We  demand  the  election  of  President,  Vice-President,  and 
United  States  senators  by  a  direct  vote  of  the  people. 

We  tender  to  the  patriotic  people  of  Cuba  our  deepest  sym- 
pathy in  their  heroic  struggle  for  political  freedom  and  inde- 
pendence, and  we  believe  the  time  has  come  when  the  United 
States,  the  great  republic  of  the  world,  should  recognize  that 
Cuba  is  and  of  right  ought  to  be  a  free  and  independent  state. 

We  favor  home  rule  in  the  territories  and  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  the  early  admission  of  the  territories  as  states. 

All  public  salaries  should  be  made  to  correspond  to  the  price 
of  labor  and  its  products. 

In  times  of  great  industrial  depression,  idle  labor  should  be 
employe'd  on  public  works  as  far  as  practicable. 

The  arbitrary  course  of  the  courts  in  assuming  to  imprison 
citizens  for  indirect  contempt  and  ruling  by  injunction  should 
be  prevented  by  proper  legislation. 

We  favor  just  pensions  for  our  disabled  Union  soldiers. 

Believing  that  the  elective  franchise  and  an  untrammeled 
ballot  are  essential  to  a  government  of,  for,  and  by  the  people, 
the  People's  party  condemns  the  wholesale  system  of  dis- 
franchisement  adopted  in  some  states,  as  unrepublican  and 
undemocratic,  and  we  declare  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  several 
state  legislatures  to  take  such  action  as  will  secure  a  full,  free, 
and  fair  ballot  and  an  honest  count. 


310       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

FINANCIAL  QUESTION   "  THE  PRESSING  ISSUE." 

While  the  foregoing  propositions  constitute  the  platform 
upon  which  our  party  stands,  and  for  the  vindication  of  which 
its  organization  will  be  maintained,  we  recognize  that  the 
great  and  pressing  issue  of  the  pending  campaign,  upon  which 
the  present  presidential  election  will  turn,  is  the  financial 
question,  and  upon  this  great  and  specific  issue  between  the 
parties  we  cordially  invite  the  aid  and  co-operation  of  all 
organizations  and  citizens  agreeing  with  us  upon  this  vital 
question. 


SILVER  PARTY  CONVENTION. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  22,  1896. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  FRANK  G.  NEWLANDS, 

of  Nevada. 

Chairman,  WILLIAM  P.  ST.  JOHN, 

of  New  York. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  William  J.  Bryan, 

of  Nebraska. 

For  Vice-President,  Arthur  Sewall, 

of  Maine. 

The  convention,  by  acclamation,  endorsed  the  candidates 
nominated  by  the  Democratic  Convention  at  Chicago, 
namely,  William  J.  Bryan  for  President,  and  Arthur 
Sewall  for  Vice-President. 

The  following  is  the  platform  adopted:— 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  311 

SILVER  PARTY  PLATFORM. 

The  National  Silver  party,  in  convention  assembled,  hereby 
adopts  the  following  declaration  of  principles:  — 

First,  The  paramount  issue  at  this  time  in  the  United  States 
is  indisputably  the  money  question.  It  is  between  the  gold 
standard,  gold  bonds,  and  bank  currency  on  the  one  side,  and 
the  bimetallic  standard,  no  bonds,  and  government  currency 
on  the  other-. 

On  this  issue  we  declare  ourselves  to  be  in  favor  of  a  dis- 
tinctively American  financial  system.  We  are  unalterably  op- 
posed to  the  single  gold  standard,  and  demand  the  immediate 
return  to  the  constitutional  standard  of  gold  and  silver,  by 
the  restoration  by  this  government,  independently  of  any  for- 
eign power,  of  the  unrestricted  coinage  of  both  gold  and  silver 
into  standard  money  at  the  ratio  of  16  to  1,  and  upon  terms 
of  exact  equality,  as  they  existed  prior  to  1873;  the  silver 
coin  to  be  a  full  legal  tender  equally  with  gold  for  all  debts 
and  dues,  private  and  public,  and  we  favor  such  legislation  as 
will  prevent  for  the  future  the  demonetization  of  any  kind  of 
legal-tender  money  by  private  contract. 

We  hold  that  the  power  to  control  and  regulate  a  paper  cur- 
rency is  inseparable  from  the  power  to  coin  money,  and  hence 
that  all  currency  intended  to  circulate  as  money  should  be 
issued,  and  its  volume  controlled,  by  the  general  government 
only,  and  should  be  at  legal  tender. 

We  are  unalterably  opposed  to  the  issue  by  the  United 
States  of  interest-bearing  bonds  in  time  of  peace,  and  we 
denounce  as  a  blunder  worse  than  a  crime  the  present  treasury 
policy,  concurred  in  by  a  Republican  House,  of  plunging  the 
country  in  debt  by  hundreds  of  millions  in  the  vain  attempt 
to  maintain  the  gold  standard  by  borrowing  gold,  and  we 
demand  the  payment  of  all  coin  obligations  of  the  United 
States  as  provided  by  existing  laws,  in  either  gold  or  silver 
coin,  at  the  option  of  the  government,  and  not  at  the  option 
of  the  creditor. 

The  demonetization  of  silver  in  1873  enormously  increased 


312       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  demand  for  gold,  enhancing  its  purchasing  power  and 
lowering  all  prices  measured  by  that  standard;  and  since  that 
unjust  and  indefensible  act  the  prices  of  American  products 
have  fallen,  upon  an  average,  nearly  50  per  cent.,  carrying 
down  with  them  proportionately  the  money  value  of  all  other 
forms  of  property.  Such  fall  of  prices  has  destroyed  the 
profits  of  legitimate  industry,  injuring  the  producer  for  the 
benefit  of  the  non-producer,  increasing  the  burden  of  the 
debtor,  swelling  the  gains  of  the  creditor,  paralyzing  the  pro- 
ductive energies  of  the  American  people,  relegating  to  idle- 
ness vast  numbers  of  willing  workers,  sending  the  shadows 
of  despair  into  the  home  of  the  honest  toiler,  filling  the  land 
with  tramps  and  paupers,  and  building  up  colossal  fortunes 
at  the  money  centers. 

In  the  effort  to  maintain  the  gold  standard  the  country  has 
within  the  last  two  years,  in  a  time  of  profound  peace  and 
plenty,  been  loaded  down  with  $262,000,000  of  additional  in- 
terest-bearing debt,  under  such  circumstances  as  to  allow  a 
syndicate  of  native  and  foreign  bankers  to  realize  a  net  profit 
of  millions  on  a  single  deal. 

It  stands  confessed  that  the  gold  standard  can  only  be  up- 
held by  so  depleting  our  paper  currency  as  to  force  the  prices 
of  our  products  below  the  European,  and  even  below  the 
Asiatic  level,  to  enable  us  to  sell  in  foreign  markets,  thus 
aggravating  the  very  evils  our  people  so  bitterly  complain  of, 
degrading  American  labor,  and  striking  at  the  foundations  of 
our  civilization  itself. 

The  advocates  of  the  gold  standard  persistently  claim  that 
the  cause  of  our  distress  is  overproduction;  that  we  have  pro- 
duced so  much  that  it  has  made  us  poor — which  implies  that 
the  true  remedy  is  to  close  the  factory,  abandon  the  farm,  and 
throw  a  multitude  of  people  out  of  employment,  a  doctrine 
that  leaves  us  unnerved  and  disheartened,  and  absolutely  with- 
out hope  for  the  future. 

We  affirm  it  to  be  unquestioned  that  there  can  be  no  such 
economic  paradox  as  overproduction  and  at  the  same  time 
tens  of  thousands  of  our  fellow-citizens  remaining  half-clothed 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  313 

and  half-fed,  and  piteously  clamoring  for  the  common  neces- 
sities of  life. 

Second.  That  over  and  above  all  other  questions  of  policy, 
we  are  in  favor  of  restoring  to  the  people  of  the  United  States 
the  time-honored  money  of  the  Constitution — gold  and  silver; 
not  one,  but  both — the  money  of  Washington,  and  Hamilton, 
and  Jefferson,  and  Monroe,  and  Jackson,  and  Lincoln,  to  the 
end  that  the  American  people  may  receive  honest  pay  for 
an  honest  product;  that  the  American  debtor  may  pay  his 
just  obligations  in  an  honest  standard,  and  not  in  a  dis- 
honest and  unsound  standard,  appreciated  100  per  cent,  in 
purchasing  power,  and  no  appreciation  in  debt-paying  power; 
and  to  the  end,  further,  that  silver-standard  countries  may 
2>e  deprived  of  the  unjust  advantage  they  now  enjoy,  in  the 
difference  in  exchange  between  gold  and  silver — an  advantage 
which  tariff  legislation  alone  cannot  overcome. 

We  therefore  confidently  appeal  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States  to  leave  in  abeyance  for  the  moment  all  other  questions, 
however  important  and  even  momentous  they  may  appear — to 
sunder,  if  need  be,  all  former  party  ties  and  affiliations — and 
unite  in  one  supreme  effort  to  free  themselves  and  their  chil- 
dren from  the  domination  of  the  money  power — a  power  more 
destructive  than  any  which  has  ever  been  fastened  upon  the 
civilized  men  of  any  race  or  in  any  age.  And  upon  the  con- 
summation of  our  desires  and  efforts  we  invoke  the  aid  of  all 
patriotic  American  citizens,  and  the  gracious  favor  of  Divine 
Providence. 

Inasmuch  as  the  patriotic  majority  of  the  Chicago  Conven- 
tion embodied  in  the  financial  plank  of  its  platform  the  prin- 
ciples enunciated  in  the  platform  of  the  American  Bimetallic 
party,  promulgated  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  January  22,  1896, 
and  herein  reiterated,  which  is  not  only  the  paramount  but  the 
only  real  issue  in  the  pending  campaign,  therefore,  recogniz- 
ing that  their  nominees  embody  these  patriotic  principles,  we 
recommend  that  this  convention  nominate  William  J.  Bryan, 
of  Nebraska,  for  President,  and  Arthur  Sewall,  of  Maine,  for 
Vice-President. 


314       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  September  2,  1896. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ROSWELL  P.  FLOWER, 

of  New  York. 

Chairman,  DONELSON  CAFFERY, 

of  Louisiana. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  John  Iff.  Palmer, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  Simon  Bolivar  Buckner, 

of  Kentucky. 

There  were  present  at  this  convention,  888  delegates, 
representing  forty-one  states  and  three  territories — Idaho, 
Nevada,  Utah,  and  Wyoming  having  no  delegates  present. 
The  delegates  represented  that  wing  of  the  Democratic 
party  which  refused  to  accept  the  platform  adopted  at  the 
Chicago  convention.  They  adopted  the  name  of  "  National 
Democratic  Party."  Candidates  were  chosen  as  follows : — 
For  President,  John  M.  Palmer,  of  Illinois,  was  nominated 
on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  7691  votes,  as  against  118 £ 
votes  cast  for  Edward  S.  Bragg,  of  Wisconsin.  For  Vice- 
President,  Simon  Bolivar  Buckner,  of  Kentucky,  was 
nominated  by  acclamation. 

The  convention  unanimously  adopted  the  following 
platform : — 

NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

This  convention  has  assembled  to  uphold  the  principles 
upon  which  depend  the  honor  and  welfare  of  the  American 
people,  in  order  that  Democrats  throughout  the  Union  may 
unite  their  patriotic  efforts  to  avert  disaster  from  their  country 
and  ruin  from  their  party. 

The  Democratic  party  is  pledged  to  equal  and  exact  justice 
to  all  meiij  of  every  creed  and  condition;  to  the  largest  free- 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  315 

dom  of  the  individual  consistent  with  good  government;  to  the 
preservation  of  the  federal  government  in  its  constitutional 
vigor,  and  to  the  support  of  the  states  in  all  their  just  rights; 
to  economy  in  the  public  expenditures;  to  the  maintenance 
of  the  public  faith  and  sound  money;  and  it  is  opposed  to 
paternalism  and  all  class-legislation. 

The  declarations  of  the  Chicago  convention  attack  indi- 
vidual freedom,  the  right  to  private  contract,  the  independence, 
of  the  judiciary,  and  the  authority  of  the  President  to  enforce 
federal  laws.  They  advocate  a  reckless  attempt  to  increase 
the  price  of  silver  by  legislation,  to  the  debasement  of  our 
monetary  standard,  and  threaten  unlimited  issues  of  paper 
money  by  the  government.  They  abandon  for  Republican 
allies  the  Democratic  cause  of  tariff  reform,  to  court  the  favor 
of  protectionists  to  their  fiscal  heresy. 

In  view  of  these  and  other  grave  departures  from  Democratic 
principles,  we  cannot  support  the  candidates  of  that  conven- 
tion nor  be  bound  by  its  acts.  The  Democratic  party  has 
survived  defeats,  but  could  not  survive  a  victory  won  in 
behalf  of  the  doctrine  and  policy  proclaimed  in  its  name  at 
Chicago. 

The  conditions,  however,  which  made  possible  such  utter- 
ances from  a  national  convention  are  the  direct  result  of  class- 
legislation  by  the  Republican  party.  It  still  proclaims,  as  it 
has  for  years,  the  power  and  duty  of  government  to  raise 
and  maintain  prices  by  law,  and  it  proposes  no  remedy  for 
existing  evils,  except  oppressive  and  unjust  taxation. 

TARIFF. 

The  National  Democracy  here  convened  therefore  renews 
its  declaration  of  faith  in  Democratic  principles,  especially  as 
applicable  to  the  conditions  of  the  times.  Taxation — tariff, 
excise,  or  direct — is  rightfully  imposed  only  for  public  pur- 
poses, and  not  for  private  gain.  Its  amount  is  justly  meas- 
ured by  public  expenditures,  which  should  be  limited  by  scrup- 
ulous economy.  The  sum  derived  by  the  treasury  from  tariff 
and  excise  levies  is  affected  by  the  state  of  trade  and  volume 
of  consumption.  The  amount  required  by  the  treasury  is 
determined  by  the  appropriations  made  by  Congress.  The 
demand  of  the  Republican  party  for  an  increase  in  tariff 
taxation  has  its  pretext  in  the  deficiency  of  the  revenue,  which 
has  its  causes  in  the  stagnation  of  trade  and  reduced  con- 
sumption, due  entirely  to  the  loss  of  confidence  that  has 
followed  the  Populist  threat  of,  free  coinage  and  depreciation 


316       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

of  our  money,  and  the  Republican  practice  of  extravagant 
appropriations  beyond  the  needs  of  good  government. 

We  arraign  and  condemn  the  Populistic  conventions  of 
Chicago  and  St.  Louis  for  their  co-operation  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  in  creating  these  conditions,  which  are  pleaded  in 
justification  of  a  heavy  increase  of  the  burdens  of  the  people 
by  a  further  resort  to  protection.  We  therefore  denounce 
protection  and  its  ally,  free  coinage  of  silver,  as  schemes  for 
the  personal  profit  of  a  few  at  the  expense  of  the  masses,  and 
oppose  the  two  parties  which  stand  for  these  schemes  as 
hostile  to  the  people  of  the  republic,  whose  food  and  shelter, 
comfort  and  prosperity  are  attacked  by  higher  taxes  and 
depreciated  money.  In  fine,  we  reaffirm  the  historic  Demo- 
cratic doctrine  of  tariff  for  revenue  only. 

THE  SHIPPING  INTERESTS. 

We  demand  that  henceforth  modern  and  liberal  policies 
toward  American  shipping  shall  take  the  place  of  our  imita- 
tion of  the  restricted  statutes  of  the  eighteenth  century,  which 
have  been  abandoned  by  every  maritime  power  but  the  United 
States,  and  which,  to  the  nation's  humiliation,  have  driven 
American  capital  and  enterprise  to  the  use  of  alien  flags  and 
alien  crews,  have  made  the  Stars  and  Stripes  an  almost 
unknown  emblem  in  foreign  ports,  and  have  virtually  extin- 
guished the  race  of  American  seamen.  We  oppose  the  pre- 
tense that  discriminating  duties  wil  promote  shipping:  that 
scheme  is  an  invitation  to  commercial  warfare  upon  the  United 
States,  un-American  in  the  light  of  our  great  commercial 
treaties,  offering  no  gain  whatever  to  American  shipping, 
while  greatly  increasing  ocean  freights  on  our  agricultural 
and  manufactured  products. 

MONET. 

The  experience  of  mankind  has  shown  that,  by  reason  of 
their  natural  qualities,  gold  is  the  necessary  money  of  the 
large  affairs  of  commerce  and  business,  while  silver  is  con- 
veniently adapted  to  minor  transactions,  and  the  most  benefi- 
cial use  of  both  together  can  be  insured  only  by  the  adoption 
of  the  former  as  a  standard  of  monetary  measure,  and  the 
maintenance  of  silver  at  a  parity  with  gold  by  its  limited 
coinage  under  suitable  safeguards  of  law.  Thus  the  largest 
possible  enjoyment  of  both  metals  is  gained,  with  a  value 
universally  accepted  throughout  the  world,  which  constitutes 
the  only  practical  bimetallic  currency,  assuring  the  most 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  317 

stable  standard,  and  especially  the  best  and  safest  money  for 
all  who  earn  their  livelihood  by  labor  or  the  produce  of  hus- 
bandry. They  cannot  suffer  when  paid  in  the  best  money 
known  to  man,  but  are  the  peculiar  and  most  defenseless 
victims  of  a  debased  and  fluctuating  currency,  which  offers 
continual  profits  to  the  money-changer  at  their  cost. 

Realizing  these  truths,  demonstrated  by  long  and  public 
inconvenience  and  loss,  the  Democratic  party,  in  the  interests 
of  the  masses  and  of  equal  justice  to  all,  practically  established 
by  the  legislation  of  1834  and  1853  the  gold  standard  of  mone- 
tary measurement,  and  likewise  entirely  divorced  the  govern- 
ment from  banking  and  currency  issues.  To  this  long-estab- 
lished Democratic  policy  we  adhere,  and  insist  upon  the  main- 
tenance of  the  gold  standard,  and  of  the  parity  therewith  of 
every  dollar  issued  by  the  government,  and  are  firmly  opposed 
to  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  and  to  the  com- 
pulsory purchase  of  silver  bullion.  But  we  denounce,  also, 
the  further  maintenance  of  the  present  costly  patchwork 
system  of  national  paper  currency  as  a  constant  source  of 
injury  and  peril.  We  assert  the  necessity  of  such  intelligent 
currency  reform  as  will  confine  the  government  to  its  legiti- 
mate functions,  completely  separated  from  the  banking  busi- 
ness, and  afford  to  all  sections  of  our  country  uniform,  safe, 
and  elastic  bank  currency  under  governmental  supervision, 
measured  in  volume  by  the  needs  of  business. 

CLEVELAND. 

The  fidelity,  patriotism,  and  courage  with  which  President 
Cleveland  has  fulfilled  his  great  public  trust;  the  high  char- 
acter of  his  administration,  its  wisdom  and  energy  in  the 
maintenance  of  civil  order  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws, 
its  equal  regard  for  the  rights  of  every  class  and  every  section, 
its  firm  and  dignified  conduct  of  foreign  affairs,  and  its  sturdy 
persistence  in  upholding  the  credit  and  honor  of  the  nation, — 
are  fully  recognized  by  the  Democratic  party  and  will  secure 
to  him  a  place  in  history  beside  the  Fathers  of  the  republic. 

CIVIL  SERVICE. 

We  also  commend  the  administration  for  the  great  pro- 
gress made  in  the  reform  of  the  public  service,  and  we  indorse 
its  efforts  to  extend  the  merit  system  still  further.  We  de- 
mand that  no  backward  step  be  taken,  but  that  the  reform 
be  supported  and  advanced  until  the  un-Democratic  spoils 
system  of  appointments  shall  be  eradicated. 


318       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

ECONOMY. 

We  demand  strict  economy  in  the  appropriations  and  in 
the  administration  of  the  government. 

ARBITRATION. 

We  favor  arbitration  for  the  settlement  of  international 
disputes. 

PENSIONS. 

We  favor  a  liberal  policy  of  pensions  to  deserving  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  the  United  States. 

SUPREME   COURT. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  was  wisely  estab- 
lished by  the  framers  of  our  Constitution  as  one  of  the  three 
co-ordinate  branches  of  the  government.  Its  independence 
and  authority  to  interpret  the  law  of  the  land  without  fear  or 
favor  must  be  maintained.  We  condemn  all  efforts  to  degrade 
that  tribunal  or  impair  the  confidence  and  respect  which  it 
has  deservedly  held. 

The  Democratic  party  ever  has  maintained,  and  ever  will 
maintain,  the  supremacy  of  law,  the  independence  of  its 
judicial  administration,  the  inviolability  of  contracts,  and  the 
obligations  of  all  good  citizens  to  resist  every  illegal  trust, 
combination,  or  attempt  against  the  just  rights  of  property 
and  the  good  order  of  society,  in  which  are  bound  up  the  peace 
and  happiness  of  our  people. 

Believing  these  principles  to  be  essential  to  the  well-being 
of  the  republic,  we  submit  them  to  the  consideration  of  the 
American  people. 

PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  May  27,  1896. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  A.  A.  STEVENS, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Chairman,  OLIVER  W.  STEWART, 

of  Illinois. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Joshua  Levering1, 

of  Maryland. 

For  Vice-President,  Hale  Johnson, 

of  Illinois. 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  319 

This  convention  met  at  Pittsburg  on  May  27,  1896,  and 
after  much  contention  over  the  adoption  of  the  platform, 
split,  and  nominated  two  tickets.  The  faction  which 
bolted  the  convention  adopted  the  name  of  "National 
Party."  The  Prohibition  nominees  were  Joshua  Levering, 
of  Maryland,  for  President,  who  was  chosen  by  acclamation, 
and  Hale  Johnson,  of  Illinois,  for  Vice-President,  who 
received  309  votes  to  132  cast  for  T.  C.  Hughes,  of  Arizona. 

The  following  is  the  platform  adopted  by  this  conven- 
tion : — 

PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

We,  the  members  of  the  Prohibition  party,  in  national  con- 
vention assembled,  renewing  our  declaration  of  allegiance  to 
Almighty  God  as  the  Rightful  Ruler  of  the  universe,  lay  down 
the  following  as  our  declaration  of  political  purpose: 

The  Prohibition  party,  in  national  convention  assembled, 
declares  its  firm  conviction  that  the  manufacture,  exportation, 
importation,  and  sale  of  alcoholic  beverages  has  produced 
such  social,  commercial,  industrial,  and  political  wrongs,  and 
is  now  so  threatening  the  perpetuity  of  all  our  social  and 
political  institutions,  that  the  suppression  of  the  same,  by  a 
national  party  organized  therefor,  is  the  greatest  object  to 
be  accomplished  by  the  voters  of  our  country,  and  is  of  such 
importance  that  it,  of  right,  ought  to  control  the  political 
actions  of  all  our  patriotic  citizens  until  such  suppression  is 
accomplished. 

The  urgency  of  this  course  demands  the  union,  without 
further  delay,  of  all  citizens  who  desire  the  prohibition  of  the 
liquor  traffic;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  favor  the  legal  prohibition  by  state  and 
national  legislation  of  the  manufacture,  importation,  and  sale 
of  alcoholic  beverages.  That  we  declare  our  purpose  to  or- 
ganize and  unite  all  the  friends  of  prohibition  into  one  party, 
and  in  order  to  accomplish  this  end  we  deem  it  of  right  to 
leave  every  Prohibitionist  the  freedom  of  his  own  convictions 
upon  all  other  political  questions,  and  trust  our  representatives 
to  take  such  action  upon  other  political  questions  as  the 
changes  occasioned  by  prohibition  and  the  welfare  of  the 
whole  people  shall  demand. 


320       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

NATIONAL  PARTY  CONVENTION. 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  May  28,  1896. 
Chairman,  A.  L.  MOORE, 

of  Michigan. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Bentley, 

of  Nebraska. 

For  Vice-President,  James  H.  Southgate, 

of  North  Carolina. 

This  convention  was  composed  of  299  delegates  who  had 
seceded  from  the  Prohibition  Convention.  Twenty-seven 
states  were  represented.  The  convention  adopted  a  plat- 
form, and  nominated,  by  acclamation,  the  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Bentley,  of  Nebraska,  as  their  candidate  for  President,  and 
James  H.  Southgate,  of  North  Carolina,  for  Vice- President. 

The  following  is  the  platform  adopted : — 

NATIONAL  PAKTY  PLATFORM. 

The  National  party,  recognizing  God  as  the  Author  of  all 
just  power  in  government,  presents  the  following  declaration 
of  principles,  which  it  pledges   itself  to  enact  into  effective 
-legislation,  when  given  the  power  to  do  so:  — 

1.  The  suppression  of  the  manufacture  and  sale,  importation, 
exportation,    and    transportation    of   intoxicating    liquors    for 
beverage  purposes.    We  utterly  reject  all  plans  for  regulating 

'  or  compromising  with  this  traffic,  whether  such  plans  be  called 
local  option,  taxation,  license,  or  public  control.  The  sale  of 
liquors  for  medicinal  and  other  legitimate  uses  should  be 
conducted  by  the  state,  without  profit,  and  with  such  regula- 
tions as  will  prevent  fraud  or  evasion. 

2.  No  citizen  should  be  denied  the  right  to  vote  on  account 
of  sex. 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  321 

3.  All  money  should  be  issued  by  the  general  government 
only,  and  without  the  intervention  of  any  private  citizen,  cor- 
poration, or  banking  institution.    It  should  be  based  upon  the 
wealth,  stability,  and  integrity  of  the  nation.    It  should  be  a 
full  legal  tender  for  all  debts,  public  and  private,  and  should  be 
of  sufficient  volume  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  legitimate 
business  interests  of  the  country.    For  the  purpose  of  honestly 
liquidating  our   outstanding   coin   obligations,   we   favor   the 
free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  both  silver  and  gold,  at  the  ratio 
16  to  1,  without  consulting  any  other  nation. 

4.  Land  is  the  common  heritage  of  the  people  and  should  be 
preserved    from    monopoly    and    speculation.    All    unearned 
grants  of  land  subject  to  forfeiture  should  be  reclaimed  by  the 
government,  and  no  portion  of  the  public  domain  should  here- 
after be  granted  except  to  actual  settlers,  continuous  use  being 
essential  to  tenure. 

5.  Railroads,    telegraphs,    and    other    natural     monopolies 
should  be  owned  and  operated  by  the  government,  giving  to 
the  people  the  benefit  of  service  at  actual  cost. 

6.  The  national  Constitution  should  be  so  amended  as  to 
allow  the  national  revenues  to  be  raised  by  equitable  adjust- 
ment of  taxation  on  the  properties  and  incomes  of  the  people, 
and  import  duties  should  be  levied  as  a  means  of  securing 
equitable  commercial  relations  with  other  nations. 

7.  The  contract  convict  labor  system,  through  which  specu- 
lators are  enriched   at   thp  expense  of  the  state,   should  be 
abolished. 

8.  All  citizens  should  be  protected  by  law  in  their  right  to 
one  day  of  rest  in  seven,  without  oppressing  any  who  con- 
scientiously observe  any  other  than  the  first  day  of  the  week. 

9.  American  public  schools,  taught  in  the  English  language, 
should  be  maintained,  and  no  public  funds  should  be  appro- 
priated for  sectarian  institutions. 

10.  The  President,  Vice-President,  and  United  States  sena- 
tors should  be  elected  by  direct  vote  of  the  people. 

11.  Ex-soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  United  States  army  and 
navy,  their  widows  and  minor  children,  should  receive  liberal 
pensions,  granted  on  disability  and  term  of  service,  not  merely 
as  a  debt  of  gratitude,  but  for  service  rendered  in  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Union. 


322       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

12.  Our  immigration  laws  should  be  so  revised  as  to  exclude 
paupers  and  criminals.    None  but  citizens  of  the  United  States 
should  be  allowed  to  vote  in  any  state,  and  naturalized  citizens 
should   not  vote   until   one  year  after   naturalization   papers 
have  been  issued. 

13.  The  initiative  and  referendum,  and  proportional  repre- 
sentation, should  be  adopted. 

14.  Having  herein   presented   our  principles   and   purposes, 
we  invite  the  co-operation  and  support  of  all  citizens  who  are 
with  us  substantially  agreed. 


SOCIALIST-LABOR  CONVENTION. 

New  York,  N.  Y.,  July  6,  1896. 
Chairman,  WILLIAM  WATKINS, 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Charles  H.  Matchett, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Matthew  Maguire, 

of  New  Jersey. 

Ther  convention  of  this  partiy  met  at  the  place  and  time 
ab'ove  stated,  and  nominated  Charles  H.  Matchett,  of  New 
York,  for  President,  and  Matthew  Maguire,  of  New  Jersey, 
for  Vice-President.  The  convention  remained  in  session 
for  six  days. 

The  following  is  the  platform  adopted: — 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  323 

SOCIALIST-LABOR  PLATFORM. 

The  Socialist-Labor  party  of  the  United  States,  in  conven- 
tion assembled,  reasserts  the  inalienable  right  of  all  men  to 
life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness. 

With  the  founders  of  the  American  republic,  we  hold  that 
the  purpose  of  government  is  to  secure  eveiy  citizen  in  the 
enjoyment  of  this  right;  but,  in  the  light  of  our  social  condi- 
tions, we  hold,  furthermore,  that  no  such  right  can  be  exer- 
cised under  a  system  of  economic  inequality,  essentially  de- 
structive of  life,  of  liberty,  and  of  happiness. 

With  the  founders  of  this  republic,  we  hold  that  the  true 
theory  of  politics  is  that  the  machinery  of  government  must 
be  owned  and  controlled  by  the  whole  people;  but  in  the  light 
of  our  industrial  development  we  hold,  furthermore,  that  the 
true  theory  of  economics  is  that  the  machinery  of  production 
must  likewise  belong  to  the  people  in  common. 

To  the  obvious  fact  that  our  despotic  system  of  economics 
is  the  direct  opposite  of  our  democratic  system  of  politics, 
can  plainly  be  traced  the  existence  of  a  privileged  class,  the 
corruption  of  government  by  that  class,  the  alienation  of 
public  property,  public  franchises,  and  public  functions  to  that 
class,  and  the  abject  dependence  of  the  mightiest  of  nations 
upon  that  class. 

Again,  through  the  perversion  of  democracy  to  the  ends  of 
plutocracy,  abor  is  robbed  of  the  wealth  which  it  alone  pro- 
duces, is  denied  the  means  of  self-employment,  and,  by  com- 
pulsory idleness  in  wage  slavery,  is  even  deprived  of  the 
necessaries  of  life.  Human  power  and  natural  forces  are 
thus  wasted,  that  the  plutocracy  may  rule.  Ignorance  and 
misery,  with  all  their  concomitant  evils,  are  perpetuated,  that 
the  people  may  be  kept  in  bondage.  Science  and  invention 
are  diverted  from  their  humane  purpose,  to  the  enslavement 
of  women  and  children. 

Against  such  a  system  the  Socialist-Labor  party  once  more 
enters  its  protest.  Once  more  it  reiterates  its  fundamental 
declaration,  that  private  property  in  the  natural  sources  of 
production  and  In  the  instruments  of  labor  is  the  obvious 
cause  of  all  economic  servitude  and  political  dependence. 

The  time  is  fast  coming  when,  in  the  natural  course  of  social 
evolution,  this  system,  through  the  destructive  action  of  its 
failures  and  crises  on  one  hand,  and  the  constructive  tenden- 
cies of  its  trusts  and  other  capitalistic  combinations  on  the 
other  hand,  shall  have  worked  out  its  own  downfall. 


324       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

We  therefore  call  upon  the  wage-workers  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  all  other  honest  citizens,  to  organize  under 
the  banner  of  the  Socialist-Labor  party  into  a  class-conscious 
body,  aware  of  its  rights  and  determined  to  conquer  them  by 
taking  possession  of  the  public  powers,  so  that,  held  together 
by  an  indomitable  spirit  of  solidarity  under  the  most  trying 
conditions  of  the  present  class  struggle,  we  may  put  a  sum- 
mary end  to  that  barbarous  struggle  by  the  abolition  of 
classes,  the  restoration  of  the  land  and  of  all  the  means  of 
production,  transportation,  and  distribution  to  the  people  as  a 
collective  body,  and  the  substitution  of  the  co-operative  com- 
monwealth for  the  present  state  of  planless  production,  indus- 
trial war,  and  social  disorder,  a  commonwealth  in  which  every 
worker  shall  have  the  free  exercise  and  full  benefit  of  his 
faculties,  multiplied  by  all  modern  factors  of  civilization. 

GENERAL   DESIANDS. 

With  a  view  to  immediate  improvement  in  the  condition  of 
labor,  we  present  the  following  demands: 

1.  Reduction   of  the   hours   of   labor   in   proportion   to   the 
progress  of  production. 

2.  The  United  States  shall  obtain  possession  of  the  railroads, 
canals,  telegraphs,  telephones,  and  all  other  means  of  public 
transportation  and  communication;  the  employees  to  operate 
the  same  co-operatively,  under  control  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment, and  to  elect  their  own  superior  officers,  but  no  employee 
shall  be  discharged  for  political  reasons. 

3.  The  municipalities  shall  obtain   possession  of  the  local 
railroads,  ferries,  waterworks,  gasworks,  electric  plants,  and 
all  industries  requiring  municipal  franchises;   the  employees 
to  operate  the  same  co-operatively,  under  control  of  the  muni- 
cipal administration,  and  to  elect  their  own  superior  officers, 
but  no  employee  shall  be  discharged  for  political  reasons. 

4.  The  public  lands  to  be  declared  inalienable.    Revocation 
of  all  land-grants  to  corporations  or  individuals,  the  condi- 
tions of  which  have  not  been  complied  with. 

5.  The  United  States  to  have  the  exclusive  right  to  issue 
money. 

6.  Congressional  legislation  providing  for  the  scientific  man- 
agement of  forests  and  waterways,  and  prohibiting  the  waste 
of  the  natural  resources  of  the  country. 


ELECTION  OF  1896.  325 

7.  Inventions  to  be  free  to  all;  the  inventors  to  be  remun- 
erated by  the  nation. 

8.  Progressive    income-tax    and    tax    on    inheritances;    the 
smaller  incomes  to  be  exempt. 

9.  School  education  of  all  children  under  fourteen  years  of 
age  to  be  compulsory,  gratuitous  and  accessible  to  all  by  public 
assistance  in  meals,  clothing,  books,  etc.,  where  necessary. 

10.  Repeal  of  all  pauper,  tramp,  conspiracy,  and  sumptuary 
laws.    Unabridged  right  of  Combination. 

11.  Prohibition    of   the   employment  of   children   of   school 
age  and  of  female  labor  in  occupations  detrimental  to  health 
or  morality.    Abolition  of  the  convict  labor  contract  system. 

12.  Employment  of  the  unemployed  by  the  public  authorities 
(county,  city,  state,  or  nation). 

13.  All   wages  to   be  paid  in   lawful  money  of  the  United 
States.    Equalization  of  women's  wages  to  those  of  men  where 
equal  service  is  performed. 

14.  Laws  for  the  protection  of  life  and  limb  in  all  occupa- 
tions, and  an  efficient  employers'  liability  law. 

15.  The  people  to  have  the  right  to  propose  laws  and  to  vote 
upon  all  measures  of  importance,  according  to  the  referendum 
principle. 

16.  Abolition  of  the  veto  power  of  the  executive   (national, 
state,  or  municipal),  wherever  it  exists. 

17.  Abolition   of   the   United    States    Senate   and   all   upper 
legislative  chambers. 

18.  Municipal  self-government. 

19.  Direct  vote  and  secret  ballots  in  all  elections.    Universal 
and  equal  right  of  suffrage,  without  regard  to  color,  creed,  or 
sex.    Election   days   to  be   legal    holidays.    The   principle   of 
proportional  representation  to  be  introduced. 

20.  All  public  officers  to  be  subject  to  recall  by  their  respec- 
tive constituencies. 

21.  Uniform  civil  and  criminal  law  throughout  the  United 
States.    Administration  of  justice  to  be  free  of  charge.    Aboli- 
tion of  capital  punishment. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  6,  1896. 
FORTY-FIVE  STATES  VOTED,  Utah  having  been  admitted 
to  statehood  since  the  previous  election. 


326       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


STATES. 

William 
McKinley, 
Republican. 

William  J. 
Bryan, 
Democrat. 

William  J 
Bryan, 
Populist. 

54  737 

107  137 

24  089 

Arkansas  

37  512 

110  103 

California  

146  17O 

121  629 

21  744 

'26  271 

158  674 

2*389 

Connecticut  

110  285 

56  740 

16804 

13  424 

Florida  

11  288 

30  683 

2  053 

60  091 

94*232 

Idaho  

6  324 

23  192 

Illinois  

607  130 

464  523 

1  090 

323  754 

305  753 

Iowa  

289'293 

223741 

159  345 

126  660 

46  194 

Kentucky  

218  171 

217  890 

22  037 

77  175 

Maine  

80465 

32  2O1 

2  487 

136  959 

104  735 

278  976 

90  530 

15  181 

293  582 

236'714 

193  501 

139  626 

Mississippi  

5,130 

56  363 

7  517 

304  940 

363  667 

10494 

42  537 

103,064 

115*999 

1  938 

7  802 

575 

57,444 

21  271 

379 

221,367 

133  675 

819,838 

551,396 

155,222 

174  488 

North  Dakota  

26,335 

20,686 

Ohio  

525,991 

474  882 

26  015 

Oregon  

48.779 

46  662 

728  300 

422  054 

11  174 

36,437 

14  459 

South  Carolina  

9,281 

58  798 

41,042 

41  225 

Tennessee  

148,773 

163  651 

4  525 

167,520 

290  862 

79  572 

Utah  

13491 

64  607 

51,127 

10  179 

458 

Virginia  

135  368 

154  709 

Washington  

39,153 

51,646 

105,368 

94  480 

268  135 

165  523 

Wyoming  

10,O72 

10,369 

286 

Total  

7,107,304 

6,287,352 

245,728 

NOTE.— There  was  fusion  on  the  electoral  ticket  of  the  Democrats 
and  Populists— and  in  some  states  there  was  fusion  on  the  electoral 
ticket  of  the  Democrats  and  Silver  Republicans— i a  the  following 
states:  Arkansas,  Colorado,  Connecticut,  Idaho,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kan- 
sas, Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  Montana, 
Nebraska,  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina,  North  Dakota,  Ohio,  Oregon, 
Pennsylvania,  South  Dakota,  Utah,  Washington,  West  Virginia, 
Wisconsin  and  Wyoming.  In  some  of  the  states,  like  Illinois  and 
Kansas,  there  were  Bryan-Watson  tickets  run  by  Middle-of-the-road 
Populists. 


ELECTION  OF  1896. 


327 


Joshua 
Levering, 
rohibitionlst 

Charles  E. 
Bentley. 
National. 

Charles  H. 
Matchett, 
Socialist- 
Labor. 

John  M. 
Palmer, 
Gold 
Democrat. 

Total  vote. 

2,147 

6,462 

194,572 

889 

"893 

149,397 

2,573 

1,046 

i',611 

1,730 

296,503 

1,717 

386 

159 

189,596 

1,808 

1,223 

4,234 

174,290 

355 

.... 

877 

31,46O 

654 

1,778 

46,456 

5,613 

2,708 

162,644 

197 

29,713 

9,796 

"793 

i',147 

6,390 

1,090,869 

3,056 

2,268 

329 

2,145 

637,305 

3,192 

352 

453 

4,516 

521,547 

1,611 

62O 

.... 

1,209 

335,639 

4,781 

5,O19 

445,861 

.... 

1,834 

101,046 

i',570 

1,870 

118,593 

5,918 

'i'36 

"587 

2,507 

250,842 

2,998 

2,114 

11,749 

401,568 

5,025 

1,995 

6,879 

544,195 

4,365 

"915 

3,230 

341,637 

485 

1,071 

7O,566 

2,196 

"293 

'  595 

2,355 

674,046 

186 

53,217 

1,243 

"797 

"l83 

5,885 

224,171 

10,315 

"779 

'49 

"228 

3,520 

83,67O 

5,614 

3,985 

6,373 

371,014 

16,O52 

17,667 

18.95O 

1,423,903 

675 

"247 

830,632 

358 

47,379 

5,068 

2,716 

.... 

i',875 

1,036,547 

919 

977 

97,337 

19,274 

"870 

i',683 

11,OOO 

1,194,335 

1,16O 

.... 

558 

1,166 

53,780 

.... 

828 

68,9O7 

683 

82,950 

3,098 

.... 

i',951 

321,998 

1,786 

.... 

5,046 

544,786 

21 

78,119 

"733 

.... 

1,331 

63,828 

2,350 

108 

2,129 

294,664 

968 

"l48 

1,668 

93,583 

1,216 

675 

201  7-'«) 

7,606 

"346 

4,584 

446IO97 

136 

.... 

20,863 

130,753 

13,955 

33,545 

133,542 

13,952,179 

It  has  been  impossible  to  separate  the  Populist  from  the  Democratic 
vote  in  the  states  in  which  there  was  a  fusion  of  those  parties.  In  some 
of  the  states,  like  Illinois,  in  which  the  two  parties  voted  for  the  same 
electors  but  upon  separate  tickets,  county  officers,  in  making  returns 
to  the  secretaries  of  state,  have  combined  the  votes  on  electors,  and  it 
is  impossible  to  say  how  the  vote  should  be  divided.  In  such  cases  the 
vote  classed  under  the  head  "Bryan,  Populist11  is  no  indication  of  the 
strength  of  the  Peopled  party,  while  at  the  same  time  it  gives  too  lar*e 
a  vote  to  the  Democrats.  There  is  no  way  of  giving,  even  approxi- 
mately, the  vote  of  the  two  parties  on  presidential  electors. 


328       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


ELECTORAL   VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  10,  1897. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT. 

William  McKinley, 
of  Ohio. 

William  J.  Bryan, 
of  Nebraska. 

Garret  A.  Hobart, 
of  New  Jersey. 

Arthur  Sewall, 
of  Maine. 

Thomas  B.  Watson, 
of  Georgia. 

No.  entitled  to  vote 

11 
8 
1 

4 

"4 
13 
3 

i'o 

1 

8 

"9 
17 
3 

8 
3 

11 

"9 
4 
12 
15 
3 

12 
4 

3 

"s 
"e 

3 

24 
15 
13 

12 

"e 

8 
15 
14 
9 

"4 
10 
36 

"3 
23 
4 
32 

4 

4 

'  6 
12 

11 
5 

1 
4 

"4 
13 
3 

i'o 

1 

4 

9 
13 
2 
4 
3 

6 

"9 
2 
12 
15 
2 

12 
2 

"2 

"3 

"4 

"4 
1 

4 

"5 

"2 
"l 
"2 
"l 

11 
8 
9 
4 
6 
3 
4 
13 
3 
24 
15 
13 
10 
13 
8 
6 
8 
15 
14 
9 
9 
17 
3 
8 
3 
4 
10 
36 
11 
3 
23 
4 
32 
4 
9 
4 
12 
15 
3 
4 
12 
4 
6 
12 
3 

California  

8 

Colorado  

6 
3 

Delaware  

Illinois  

24 
15 
13 

Indiana  

Kansas  

12 

6 
8 
15 
14 
9 

Massachusetts  

Minnesota  

4 
10 
36 

New  Jersey  

New  York  

North  Dakota  

3 

23 
4 
32 

4 

Ohio  

Oregon  

Pennsylvania  

South  Carolina  

South  Dakota  

Texas  

Utah  

Vermont  

4 

Virginia  

Washington  

West  Virginia  

6 

12 

Wisconsin  

Wyoming  

Total  

271    '    176 

271 

149 

27 

447 

ELECTION  OF  1896.  329 

William  McKinley  was  elected  President  and  Garret  A. 
Hobart  as  Vice- President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Fifty-fifth  Congress. 

Senate— 34  Democrats,  44  Republicans,  5  Populists,  6  Silver 

Republicans,  1  Independent Total,  90 

House — 121  Democrats,  203  Republicans,  21  Populists,  3 

Silverites,  4  Independents,  5  vacancies ,,..,..  "  357 

Fifty-sixth  Congress. 

Senate — 26  Democrats,  51  Republicans,  5  Populists,  4  Sil- 
verites, 4  vacancies Total,  90 

House — 161  Democrats,  185  Republicans,  5  Populists,  3 

Silverites,  3  vacancies ««  357 


330       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1900 


Democratic  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  JAMES  K.  JONES,  of  Arkansas. 
Secretary,  CHAELES  A.  WALSH,  of  Iowa. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

Kansas  City,  Mo.,  July  4-6,  1900. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  CHARLES  S.  THOMAS, 

of  Colorado. 

Chairman,  JAMES  D.  RICHARDSON, 

of  Tennessee. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  William  J.  Bryan, 

of  Nebraska. 

For  Vice-President,  Adlai  E.  Stevenson, 

of  Illinois. 

This  convention  consisted  of  936  delegates,  including 
six  from  Hawaii.  Two  of  the  delegates  from  Utah  were 
women.  The  proceedings  on  the  opening  day  included  the 
reading  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  "William  J. 
Bryan,  of  Nebraska,  was  unanimously  nominated  for  Presi- 
dent on  the  first  ballot. 

But  one  ballot  was  taken  for  a  candidate  for  Vice- Presi- 
dent, resulting  as  follows : 


ELECTION  OF  1900. 


331 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

ADLAI  E.  STEVENSON, 
of  Illinois  

559  X 

JOHN  WALTER.  SMITH, 
of  Maryland  

16 

DAVID  B.  HILL, 

20O 

ELLIOTT  DAN  FORTH, 
of  New  York  

1 

CHARLES  A.  TOWNE, 

89X 

JAMES  8.  HOGG, 
of  Te\as  

1 

A.  W.  PATRICK, 
of  Ohio    

46 

Whole  number  of  votes,  936 

JULIAN  S.  CARR, 
of  North  Carolina  

23 

Necessary  to  a  choice,     624 

Before  the  result  of  the  ballot  was  announced,  changes 
were  made  to  Stevenson  until  every  vote  was  recorded  in 
his  favor. 

The  construction  of  the  platform  was  under  discussion 
for  two  days  by  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  A  plank 
declaring  for  the  free  coinage  of  silver  at  the  ratio  of 
16  to  1  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  26  to  24.  The  convention, 
without  debate  and  without  a  dissenting  voice,  adopted  by 
acclamation  the  platform  as  reported  by  the  committee,  as 
follows : — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

We,  the  representatives  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the 
United  States,  assembled  in  national  convention,  on  the  anni- 
versary of  the  adoption  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
do  reaffirm  our  faith  in  that  immortal  proclamation  of  the  in- 
alienable rights  of  man  and  our  allegiance  to  the  Constitution 
framed  in  harmony  therewith  by  the  Fathers  of  the  Republic. 
We  hold  with  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  that  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  is  the  spirit  of  our  government, 
of  which  the  Constitution  is  the  form  and  letter. 

THE   ORIGIN   AND   POWERS   OF   GOVERNMENT. 

We  declare  again  that  all  governments  instituted  among 
men  derive  their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed; 
that  any  government  not  based  upon  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned is  a  tyranny,  and  that  to  impose  upon  any  people  a 
government  of  force  is  to  substitute  the  methods  of  imperial- 
ism for  those  of  a  republic.  We  hold  that  the  Constitution 


332       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

follows  the  flag,  and  denounce  the  doctrine  that  an  Executive 
or  Congress  deriving  their  existence  and  their  powers  from  the 
Constitution  can  exercise  lawful  authority  beyond  it  or  in 
violation  of  it. 

We  assert  that  no  nation  can  long  endure  half  republic  and 
half  empire,  and  we  warn  the  American  people  that  imperial- 
ism abroad  will  lead  quickly  and  inevitably  to  despotism  at 
home. 

TAXATION   OF   PORTO   HICO. 

Believing  in  these  fundamental  principles,  we  denounce  the 
Porto  Rican  law,  enacted  by  a  Republican  Congress  against 
the  protest  and  opposition  of  the  Democratic  minority,  as  a 
bold  and  open  violation  of  the  nation's  organic  law  and  a 
flagrant  breach  of  the  national  good  faith.  It  imposes  upon 
the  people  of  Porto  Rico  a  government  without  their  consent 
and  taxation  without  representation.  It  dishonors  the  Ameri- 
can people  by  repudiating  a  solemn  pledge  made  in  their  behalf 
by  the  commanding  general  of  our  army,  which  the  Porto 
Ricans  welcomed  to  a  peaceful  and  unresisted  occupation  of 
their  land.  It  doomed  to  poverty  and  distress  a  people  whose 
helplessness  appeals  with  peculiar  force  to  our  justice  and 
magnanimity. 

In  this,  the  first  act  of  its  imperialistic  programme,  the 
Republican  party  seeks  to  commit  the  United  States  to  a 
colonial  policy  inconsistent  with  republican  institutions  and 
condemned  by  the  Supreme  Court  in  numerous  decisions. 

PLEDGE   TO  CUBA. 

We  demand  the  prompt  and  honest  fulfillment  of  our  pledge 
to  the  Cuban  people  and  the  world,  that  the  United  States  has 
no  disposition  or  intention  to  exercise  sovereignty,  jurisdic- 
tion, or  control  over  the  Island  of  Cuba  except  for  its  pacifi- 
cation. The  war  ended  nearly  two  years  ago,  profound  peace 
reigns  over  all  the  island,  and  still  the  administration  keeps 
the  government  of  the  island  from  its  people,  while  Republican 
carpet-bag  officials  plunder  its  revenues  and  exploit  the  col- 
onial theory,  to  the  disgrace  of  the  American  people. 

THE  PHILIPPINES. 

We  condemn  and  denounce  the  Philippine  policy  of  the  pres- 
ent administration.  It  has  involved  the  republic  in  unneces- 
sary war,  sacrificed  the  lives  of  many  of  our  noblest  sons,  and 
placed  the  United  States,  previously  known  and  applauded 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  333 

throughout  the  world  as  the  champion  of  freedom,  in  the  false 
and  un-American  position  of  crushing  with  military  force  the 
efforts  of  our  former  allies  to  achieve  liberty  and  self-govern- 
ment. The  Filipinos  cannot  be  citizens  without  endangering 
our  civilization;  they  cannot  be  subjects  without  imperiling 
our  form  of  government;  and  as  we  are  not  willing  to  surren- 
der our  civilization  nor  to  convert  the  republic  into  an  empire, 
we  favor  an  immediate  declaration  of  the  nation's  purpose  to 
give  the  Filipinos,  first,  a  stable  form  of  government;  second, 
independence;  and  third,  protection  from  outside  interference, 
such  as  has  been  given  for  nearly  a  century  to  the  republics  of 
Central  and  South  America. 

The  greedy  commercialism  which  dictated  the  Philippine 
policy  of  the  Republican  administration  attempts  to  justify 
it  with  the  plea  that  it  will  pay;  but  even  this  sordid  and 
unworthy  plea  fails  when  brought  to  the  test  of  facts.  The 
war  of  criminal  aggression  against  the  Filipinos,  entailing  an 
annual  expense  of  many  millions,  has  already  cost  more  than 
any  possible  profit  that  could  accrue  from  the  entire  Philippine 
trade  for  years  to  come.  Furthermore,  when  trade  is  extended 
at  the  expense  of  liberty,  the  price  is  always  too  high. 

LEGITIMATE  EXPANSION. 

We  are  not  opposed  to  territorial  expansion  when  it  takes 
in  desirable  territory  which  can  be  erected  into  states  in  the 
Union,  and  whose  people  are  willing  and  fit  to  become  Ameri- 
can citizens.  We  favor  expansion  by  every  peaceful  and  legiti- 
mate means.  But  we  are  unalterably  opposed  to  seizing  or 
purchasing  distant  islands  to  be  governed  outside  the  Consti- 
tution, and  whose  people  can  never  become  citizens. 

We  are  in  favor  of  extending  the  republic's  influence  among 
the  nations,  but  believe  that  that  influence  should  be  extended 
not  by  force  and  violence,  but  through  the  persuasive  power 
of  a  high  and  honorable  example. 

THE   PARAMOUNT  ISSUE. 

The  importance  of  other  questions  now  pending  before  the 
American  people  is  no  wise  diminished  and  the  Democratic 
party  takes  no  backward  step  from  its  position  on  them,  but 
the  burning  issue  of  imperialism  growing  out  of  the  Spanish 
war  involves  the  very  existence  of  the  republic  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  our  free  institutions.  We  regard  it  as  the  paramount 
issue  of  the  campaign. 


334       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

THE  MONROE   DOCTRINE. 

The  declaration  in  the  Republican  platform  adopted  at  the 
Philadelphia  Convention,  held  in  June,  1900,  that  the  Republi- 
can party  "  steadfastly  adheres  to  the  policy  announced  in  the 
Monroe  doctrine  "  is  manifestly  insincere  and  deceptive.  This 
profession  is  contradicted  by  the  avowed  policy  of  that  party, 
in  opposition  to  the  spirit  of  the  Monroe  doctrine,  to  acquire 
and  hold  sovereignty  over  large  areas  of  territory  and  large 
numbers  of  people  in  the  Eastern  Hemisphere.  We  insist  on 
the  strict  maintenance  of  the  Monroe  doctrine  in  all  its  integ- 
rity, both  in  letter  and  in  spirit,  as  necessary  to  prevent  the 
extension  of  European  authority  on  this  continent  and  as 
essential  to  our  supremacy  in  American  affairs.  At  the  same 
time  we  declare  that  no  American  people  shall  ever  be  held  by 
force  in  unwilling  subjection  to  European  authority. 

MILITARISM   OPPOSED. 

We  oppose  militarism.  It  means  conquest  abroad  and  in- 
timidation and  oppression  at  home.  It  means  the  strong  arm 
which  has  ever  been  fatal  to  free  institutions.  It  is  what 
millions  of  our  citizens  have  fled  from  in  Europe.  It  will 
impose  upon  our  peace-loving  people  a  large  standing  army 
and  unnecessary  burden  of  taxation,  and  will  be  a  constam. 
menace  to  their  liberties.  A  small  standing  army  and  a  well- 
disciplined  state  militia  are  amply  sufficient  in  time  of  peace. 
This  republic  has  no  place  for  a  vast  military  service  and 
conscription. 

THE  NATIONAL   GUARD. 

In  time  of  danger  the  volunteer  soldier  is  his  country's  best 
defender.  The  National  Guard  of  the  United  States  should 
ever  be  cherished  in  the  patriotic  hearts  of  a  free  people. 
Such  organizations  are  ever  an  element  of  strength  and  safety. 
For  the  first  time  in  our  history  and  coeval  with  the  Philippine 
conquest  has  there  been  a  wholesale  departure  from  our  time- 
honored  and  approved  system  of  volunteer  organization.  We 
denounce  it  as  un-American,  undemocratic,  and  unrepublican, 
and  as  a  subversion  of  the  ancient  and  fixed  principles  of  a 
free  people. 

TPTJSTS. 

Private  monopolies  are  indefensible  and  intolerable.  They 
destroy  competition,  control  the  price  of  all  material  and  of 
the  finished  product,  thus  robbing  both  producer  and  con- 
sumer. They  lessen  the  employment  of  labor  and  arbitrarily 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  335 

fix  the  terms  and  conditions  thereof,  and  deprive  individual 
energy  and  small  capital  of  their  opportunity  for  betterment. 
They  are  the  most  efficient  means  yet  devised  for  appropriat- 
ing the  fruits  of  industry  to  the  benefit  of  the  few  at  the 
expense  of  the  many,  and,  unless  their  insatiate  greed  is 
checked,  all  wealth  will  be  aggregated  in  a  few  hands  and  the 
republic  destroyed. 

The  dishonest  paltering  with  the  trust  evil  by  the  Republican 
party  in  state  and  national  platforms  is  conclusive  proof  of 
the  truth  of  the  charge  that  trusts  are  the  legitimate  product 
of  Republican  policies,  that  they  are  fostered  by  Republican 
laws,  and  that  they  are  protected  by  the  Republican  adminis- 
tration for  campaign  subscriptions  and  political  support. 

We  pledge  the  Democratic  party  to  an  unceasing  warfare  in 
nation,  state,  and  city  against  private  monopoly  in  every  form. 
Existing  laws  against  trusts  must  be  enforced  and  more  strin- 
gent ones  must  be  enacted,  providing  for  publicity  as  to  the 
affairs  of  corporations  engaged  in  interstate  commerce,  re- 
quiring all  corporations  to  show,  before  doing  business  out- 
side the  state  of  their  origin,  that  they  have  no  water  in  their 
stock  and  that  they  have  not  attempted,  and  are  not  attempt- 
ing, to  monopolize  any  branch  of  business  or  the  production 
of  any  articles  of  merchandise;  and  the  whole  constitutional 
power  of  Congress  over  interstate  commerce,  the  mails,  and 
all  modes  of  interstate  communication  shall  be  exercised  by 
the  enactment  of  comprehensive  laws  upon  the  subject  of 
trusts. 

THE   FRKE   LIST   AS   A   REMEDY. 

Tariff  laws  should  be  amended  by  putting  the  products  of 
trusts  upon  the  free  list,  to  prevent  monopoly  under  the  plea 
of  protection. 

REPUBLICAN   INSINCERITY    IN    TRUST-LEGISLATION. 

The  failure  of  the  present  Republican  administration,  with 
an  absolute  control  over  all  the  branches  of  the  national  gov- 
ernment, to  enact  any  legislation  designed  to  prevent  or  even 
curtail  the  absorbing  power  of  trusts  and  illegal  combinations, 
or  to  enforce  the  anti-trust  laws  already  on  the  statute  books, 
proves  the  insincerity  of  the  high-sounding  phrases  of  the 
Republican  platform. 

CORPORATE    INTERFERENCE    IN    GOVERNMENT. 

Corporations  should  be  protected  in  all  their  rights  and  their 
legitimate  interests  should  be  respected,  but  any  attempt  by 


336       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

corporations  to  interfere  with  the  public  affairs  of  the  people, 
or  to  control  the  sovereignty  which  creates  them,  should  be 
forbidden  under  such  penalties  as  will  make  such  attempts 
impossible. 

THE   DINGLEY  TARIFF  LAW. 

We  condemn  the  Dingley  Tariff  Law  as  a  trust-breeding 
measure,  skillfully  devised  to  give  the  few  favors  which  they 
do  not  deserve  and  to  place  upon  the  many  burdens  which 
they  should  not  bear. 

INTERSTATE   COMMERCE  COMMISSION. 

We  favor  such  an  enlargement  of  the  scope  of  the  Interstate 
Commerce  Law  as  will  enable  the  commission  to  protect  in- 
dividuals and  communities  from  discriminations,  and  the  pub- 
lic from  unjust  and  unfair  transportation  rates. 

THE  .SILVER  DECLARATION. 

We  reaffirm  and  indorse  the  principles  of  the  National  Demo- 
cratic platform  adopted  at  Chicago  in  1896,  and  we  reiterate 
the  demand  of  that  platform  for  an  American  financial  system, 
made  by  the  American  people  for  themselves,  which  shall  re- 
store and  maintain  a  bimetallic  price-level,  and  as  part  of  such 
system  the  immediate  restoration  of  the  free  and  unlimited 
coinage  of  silver  and  gold  at  the  present  legal  ratio  of  16  to  1, 
without  waiting  for  the  aid  or  consent  of  any  other  nation. 

THE  CURRENCY  BILL  DENOUNCED. 

We  denounce  the  Currency  Bill  enacted  at  the  last  session 
of  Congress  as  a  step  forward  in  the  Republican  policy  which 
aims  to  discredit  the  sovereign  right  of  the  national  govern- 
ment to  issue  all  money,  whether  coin  or  paper,  and  to  bestow 
upon  national  banks  the  power  to  issue  and  control  the  volume 
of  paper  money  for  their  own  benefit.  A  permanent  national 
bank  currency,  secured  by  government  bonds,  must  have  a 
permanent  debt  to  rest  upon,  and  if  the  bank  currency  is  to 
increase,  the  debt  must  also  increase.  The  Republican  cur- 
rency scheme  is  therefore  a  scheme  for  fastening  upon  the 
taxpayers  a  perpetual  and  growing  debt. 

We  are  opposed  to  this  private  corporation  paper  circulated 
as  money,  but  without  legal-tender  qualities,  and  demand  the 
retirement  of  the  national  bank  notes  as  fast  as  government 
paper  or  silver  certificates  can  be  substituted  for  them. 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  337 

POPULAR  ELECTION  OF   SENATORS. 

We  favor  an  amendment  to  the  Federal  Constitution  provid- 
ing for  election  of  United  States  senators  by  the  direct  vote 
of  the  people,  and  we  favor  direct  legislation  wherever  practi- 
cable. 

INJUNCTIONS,    BLACKLIST,    AND    ARBITRATION. 

We  are  opposed  to  government  by  injunction;  we  denounce 
the  blacklist,  and  favor  arbitration  as  a  means  of  settling  dis- 
putes between  corporations  and  their  employees. 

A  DEPARTMENT   OF  LABOR. 

In  the  interest  of  American  labor  and  the  uplifting  of  the 
workingman,  as  the  cornerstone  of  the  prosperity  of  our  coun- 
try, we  recommend  that  Congress  create  a  Department  of 
Labor,  in  charge  of  a  secretary  with  a  seat  in  the  cabinet,  be- 
lieving that  the  elevation  of  the  American  laborer  will  bring 
with  it  increased  protection  and  increased  prosperity  to  our 
country  at  home  and  to  our  commerce  abroad. 

LIBERAL  PENSIONS. 

We  are  proud  of  the  courage  and  fidelity  of  the  American 
soldiers  and  sailors  in  all  our  wars;  we  favor  liberal  pensions 
to  them  and  their  dependents,  and  we  reiterate  the  position 
taken  in  the  Chicago  platform  in  1896,  that  the  fact  of  enlist- 
ment and  service  shall  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence  against 
disease  and  disability  before  enlistment. 

FOR  THE  NICARAGUAN  CANAL. 

We  favor  the  immediate  construction,  ownership,  and  con- 
trol of  the  Nicaraguan  canal  by  the  United  States,  and  we 
denounce  the  insincerity  of  the  plank  in  the  Republican  plat- 
form for  an  isthmian  canal  in  face  of  the  failure  of  the  Repub- 
lican majority  on  this  subject  to  pass  such  a  bill  in  Congress. 

HAY-PAUNCEFOTE  TREATY. 

We  condemn  the  Hay-Pauncefote  treaty  as  a  surrender  of 
American  rights  and  interests  not  to  be  tolerated  by  the 
American  people. 

NEW  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES. 

We  denounce  the  failure  of  the  Republican  party  to  carry 
out  its  pledges  to  grant  statehood  to  the  territories  of  Arizona, 
New  Mexico,  and  Oklahoma.  We  promise  the  people  of  those 


338       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

territories  immediate  statehood,  and  home-rule  during  their 
condition  as  territories,  and  we  favor  home-rule  and  a  terri- 
torial form  of  government  for  Alaska  and  Porto  Rico. 

ABID   LANDS. 

We  favor  an  intelligent  system  of  improving  the  arid  lands 
of  the  West,  storing  the  waters  for  purposes  of  irrigation, 
and  the  holding  of  such  lands  for  actual  settlers. 

CHINESE   EXCLUSION. 

We  favor  the  continuance  and  strict  enforcement  of  the 
Chinese  Exclusion  Law,  and  its  application  to  the  same  classes 
of  all  Asiatic  races. 

ALLIANCES   OPPOSED. 

Jefferson  said:  "Peace,  commerce,  and  honest  friendship 
with  all  nations;  entangling  alliances  with  none."  We  approve 
this  wholesome  doctrine,  and  earnestly  protest  against  the 
Republican  departure  which  has  involved  us  in  so-called 
world-politics,  including  the  diplomacy  of  Europe  and  the 
intrigue  and  land-grabbing  of  Asia.  We  especially  condemn 
the  ill-concealed  Republican  alliance  with  England,  which 
must  mean  discrimination  against  other  friendly  nations,  and 
which  has  already  stifled  the  nation's  voice,  while  liberty  is 
being  strangled  in  Africa. 

SYMPATHY  FOB  THE   BOERS. 

Believing  in  the  principles  of  self-government,  and  reject- 
ing, as  did  our  forefathers,  the  claim  of  monarchy,  we  view 
with  indignation  the  purpose  of  England  to  overwhelm  with 
force  the  South  African  republics.  Speaking  as  we  do  for  the 
entire  American  nation,  except  its  Republican  officeholders, 
and  for  all  freemen  everywhere,  we  extend  our  sympathies  to 
the  heroic  burghers  in  their  unequal  struggle  to  maintain  their 
liberty  and  independence. 

REPUBLICAN  EXTRAVAGANCE  DENOUNCED. 

We  denounce  the  lavish  appropriations  of  recent  Republican 
Congresses,  which  have  kept  taxes  high  and  which  threaten 
the  perpetuation  of  the  oppressive  war  levies.  We  oppose  the 
accumulation  of  a  surplus,  to  be  squandered  in  such  barefaced 
frauds  upon  the  taxpayers  as  the  Shipping  Subsidy  Bill,  which, 
under  the  false  pretense  of  prospering  American  shipbuilding, 
would  put  unearned  millions  into  the  pockets  of  favorite  con- 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  339 

tributors  to  the  Republican  campaign  fund.  We  favor  the 
reduction  and  speedy  repeal  of  the  war  taxes,  and  a  return  to 
the  time-honored  Democratic  policy  of  strict  economy  in  gov- 
ernmental expenditures. 

OUR   INSTITUTIONS   IMPERILED. 

Believing  that  our  most  cherished  institutions  are  in  great 
peril,  that  the  very  existence  of  our  constitutional  republic  is 
at  stake,  and  that  the  decision  now  to  be  rendered  will  deter- 
mine whether  our  children  are  to  enjoy  the  blessed  privileges 
of  free  government,  which  have  made  the  United  States  great, 
prosperous,  and  honored,  we  earnestly  ask  for  the  foregoing 
declaration  of  principles  the  hearty  support  of  the  liberty- 
loving  American  people,  regardless  of  previous  party  affilia- 
tions, 


Republican  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  MARCUS  A.  HANNA,  of  Ohio. 
Secretary,  PERRY  S.  HEATH,  of  Indiana. 


REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  June  19-21,  1900. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  EDWARD  O.  WOLCOTT, 

of  Colorado. 

Chairman,  HENRY  CABOT  LODGE, 

of  Massachusetts. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  William  McKinley, 

of  Ohio. 

For  Vice-President,  Theodore  Roosevelt, 

of  New  York. 

This  convention  was  composed  of  924  delegates,  includ- 
ing two  from  Hawaii.  William  McKinley  was  unanimously 
renominated  for  President  on  the  first  ballot. 


340       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

For  Vice-President,  Theodore  Eoosevelt,  of  New  York, 
was  unanimously  nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving 
923  yotes,  one  less  than  the  full  number,  he  having 
refrained  from  voting. 

At  this  convention  but  one  candidate  was  presented  for 
each  office. 

The  platform  adopted  by  the  Twelfth  Republican  Na- 
tional Convention,  on  June  20,  1900,  is  as  follows: — 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

The  Republicans  of  the  "United  States,  through  their  chosen 
representatives  met  in  national  convention,  looking  back  upon 
an  unsurpassed  record  of  achievement  and  looking  forward 
into  a  great  field  of  duty  and  opportunity,  and  appealing  to  the 
judgment  of  their  countrymen,  make  these  declarations: 

EXPECTATIONS   FULFILLED. 

The  expectation  in  which  the  American  people,  turning  from 
the  Democratic  party,  intrusted  power  four  years  ago  to  a 
Republican  Chief  Magistrate  and  a  Republican  Congress,  has 
been  met  and  satisfied.  When  the  people  then  assembled  at 
the  polls,  after  a  term  of  Democratic  legislation  and  adminis- 
tration, business  was  dead,  industry  paralyzed,  and  the  na- 
tional credit  disastrously  impaired.  The  country's  capital  was 
hidden  away  and  its  labor  distressed  and  unemployed.  The 
Democrats  had  no  other  plan  with  which  to  improve  the 
ruinous  conditions  which  they  had  themselves  produced  than 
to  coin  silver  at  the  ratio  of  16  to  1. 

PBOMISE   OF   PROSPERITY   REDEEMED. 

The  Republican  party,  denouncing  this  plan  as  sure  to  pro- 
duce conditions  even  worse  than  those  from  which  relief  was 
sought,  promised  to  restore  prosperity  by  means  of  two  legis- 
lative measures:  a  protective  tariff  and  a  law  making  gold  the 
standard  of  value.  The  people  by  great  majorities  issued  to 
the  Republican  party  a  commission  to  enact  these  laws.  The 
commission  has  been  executed,  and  the  Republican  promise  is 
redeemed. 

Prosperity  more  general  and  more  abundant  than  we  have 
ever  known  has  followed  these  enactments.  There  is  no  longer 
controversy  as  to  the  value  of  any  government  obligations. 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  341 

Every  American  dollar  is  a  gold  dollar  or  its  assured  equiva- 
lent, and  American  credit  stands  higher  than  that  of  any 
nation.  Capital  is  fully  employed,  and  labor  everywhere  is 
profitably  occupied. 

GKOWTH  OF  EXPORT  TRADE. 

No  single  fact  can  more  strikingly  tell  the  story  of  what 
Republican  government  means  to  the  country  than  this,  that 
while  during  the  whole  period  of  one  hundred  and  seven  years, 
from  1790  to  1897,  there  was  an  excess  of  exports  over  imports 
of  only  $383,028,497,  there  has  been  in  the  short  three  years 
of  the  present  Republican  administration  an  excess  of  exports 
over  imports  in  the  enormous  sum  of  $1,483,537,094. 

THE  WAR  WITH  SPAIN. 

And  while  the  American  people,  sustained  by  this  Republi- 
can legislation,  have  been  achieving  these  splendid  triumphs 
in  their  business  and  commerce,  they  have  conducted  and  in 
victory  concluded  a  war  for  liberty  and  human  rights.  No 
thought  of  national  aggrandizement  tarnished  the  high  pur- 
pose with  which  American  standards  were  unfurled.  It  was 
a  war  unsought  and  patiently  resisted,  but  when  it  came,  the 
American  government  was  ready.  Its  fleets  were  cleared  for 
action;  its  armies  were  in  the  field,  and  the  quick  and  signal 
triumph  of  its  forces  on  land  and  sea  bore  equal  tribute  to  the 
courage  of  American  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  to  the  skill  and 
foresight  of  Republican  statesmanship.  To  ten  millions  of  the 
human  race  there  was  given  "  a  new  birth  of  freedom,"  and  to 
the  American  people  a  new  and  noble  responsibility. 

MCKINLEY'S  ADMINISTRATION  INDORSED. 

We  indorse  the  administration  of  William  McKinley.  Its 
acts  have  been  established  in  wisdom  and  in  patriotism,  and 
at  home  and  abroad  it  has  distinctly  elevated  and  extended 
the  influence  of  the  American  nation.  Walking  untried  paths 
and  facing  unforeseen  responsibilities,  President  McKinley  has 
been  in  every  situation  the  true  American  patriot  and  the  up- 
right statesman,  clear  in  vision,  strong  in  judgment,  firm  in 
action,  always  inspiring  and  deserving  the  confidence  of  his 
countrymen. 

DEMOCRATIC   INCAPACITY  A  MENACE  TO   PROSPERITY. 

In  asking  the  American  people  to  indorse  this  Republican 
record  and  to  renew  their  commission  to  the  Republican  party, 


342       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

we  remind  them  of  the  fact  that  the  menace  to  their  prosperity 
has  always  resided  in  Democratic  principles,  and  no  less  in 
the  general  incapacity  of  the  Democratic  party  to  conduct  pub- 
lic affairs.  The  prime  essential  of  business  prosperity  is 
public  confidence  in  the  good  sense  of  the  government  and  in 
its  ability  to  deal  intelligently  with  each  new  problem  of 
administration  and  legislation.  That  confidence  the  Demo- 
cratic party  has  never  earned.  It  is  hopelessly  inadequate, 
and  the  country's  prosperity,  when  Democratic  success  at  the 
polls  is  announced,  halts  and  ceases  in  mere  anticipation  of 
Democratic  blunders  and  failures. 

MONETARY   LEGISLATION. 

We  renew  our  allegiance  to  the  principle  of  the  gold  stand- 
ard and  declare  our  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  the  legislation 
of  the  Fifty-sixth  Congress,  by  which  the  parity  of  all  our 
money  and  the  stability  of  our  currency  upon  a  gold  basis  has 
been  secured.  We  recognize  that  interest  rates  are  a  potent 
factor  in  production  and  business  activity,  and  for  the  purpose 
of  further  equalizing  and  of  further  lowering  the  rates  of  in- 
terest, we  favor  such  monetary  legislation  as  will  enable  the 
varying  needs  of  the  season  and  of  all  sections  to  be  promptly 
met,  in  order  that  trade  may  be  evenly  sustained,  labor  stead- 
ily employed,  and  commerce  enlarged.  The  volume  of  money 
in  circulation  was  never  so  great  per  capita  as  it  is  to-day. 

FREE  COINAGE   OF  SILVER  OPPOSED. 

We  declare  our  steadfast  opposition  to  the  free  and  un- 
limited coinage  of  silver.  No  measure  to  that  end  could  be 
considered  which  was  without  the  support  of  the  leading  com- 
mercial countries  of  the  world.  However  firmly  Republican 
legislation  may  seem  to  have  secured  the  country  against  the 
peril  of  base  and  discredited  currency,  the  election  of  a  Demo- 
cratic President  could  not  fail  to  impair  the  country's  credit 
and  to  bring  once  more  into  question  the  intention  of  the 
American  people  to  maintain  upon  the  gold  standard  the 
parity  of  their  money  circulation.  The  Democratic  party  must 
be  convinced  that  the  American  people  will  never  tolerate  the 
Chicago  platform. 

TRUSTS. 

We  recognize  the  necessity  and  propriety  of  the  honest  co- 
operation of  capital  to  meet  new  business  conditions,  and 
especially  to  extend  our  rapidly  increasing  foreign  trade;  but 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  343 

wo  condemn  all  conspiracies  and  combinations  intended  to  re- 
strict business,  to  create  monopolies,  to  limit  production,  or 
to  control  prices,  and  favor  such  legislation  as  will  effectively 
restrain  and  prevent  all  such  abuses,  protect  and  promote 
competition,  and  secure  the  rights  of  producers,  laborers,  and 
all  who  are  engaged  in  industry  and  commerce. 

PROTECTION  POLICY  REAFFIRMED. 

We  renew  our  faith  in  the  policy  of  protection  to  American 
labor.  In  that  policy  our  industries  have  been  established, 
diversified,  and  maintained.  By  protecting  the  home  market, 
competition  has  been  stimulated  and  production  cheapened. 
Opportunity  to  the  inventive  genius  of  our  people  has  been 
secured  and  wages  in  every  department  of  labor  maintained 
at  high  rates — higher  now  than  ever  before,  and  always  dis- 
tinguishing our  working-people  in  their  better  conditions  of 
life  from  those  of  any  competing  country.  Enjoying  the 
blessings  of  the  American  common  school,  secure  in  the  right 
of  self-government,  and  protected  in  the  occupancy  of  their 
own  markets,  their  constantly  increasing  knowledge  and  skill 
have  enabled  them  to  finally  enter  the  markets  of  the  world. 

RECIPROCITY  FAVORED. 

We  favor  the  associated  policy  of  reciprocity,  so  directed  as 
to  open  our  markets  on  favorable  terms  for  what  we  do  not 
ourselves  produce,  in  return  for  free  foreign  markets. 

RESTRICTION   OF   IMMIGBATION,   AND    OTHER   LABOR-LEGISLATION. 

In  the  further  interest  of  American  workmen  we  favor  a 
more  effective  restriction  of  the  immigration  of  cheap  labor 
from  foreign  lands,  the  extension  of  opportunities  of  educa- 
tion for  working-children,  the  raising  of  the  age  limit  for 
child-labor,  the  protection  of  free  labor  as  against  contract 
convict  labor,  and  an  effective  system  of  labor  insurance. 

SHIPPING. 

Our  present  dependence  upon  foreign  shipping  for  nine- 
tenths  of  our  foreign-carrying  trade  is  a  great  loss  to  the  in- 
dustry of  this  country.  It  is  also  a  serious  danger  to  our 
trade,  for  its  sudden  withdrawal  in  the  event  of  European  war 
would  seriously  cripple  our  expanding  foreign  commerce.  The 
national  defense  and  naval  efficiency  of  this  country,  moreover, 
supply  a  compelling  reason  for  legislation  which  will  enable 


344       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

us  to  recover  our  former  place  among  the  trade  carrying  fleets 
of  the  world. 

DEBT  TO   SOLDIERS  AND  SAILORS. 

The  nation  owes  a  debt  of  profound  gratitude  to  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  who  have  fought  its  battles,  and  it  is  the  govern- 
ment's duty  to  provide  for  the  survivors  and  for  the  widows 
and  orphans  of  those  who  have  fallen  in  the  country's  wars. 
The  pension  laws,  founded  on  this  just  sentiment,  should  be 
liberally  administered,  and  preference  should  be  given,  wher- 
ever practicable,  with  respect  to  employment  in  the  public 
service,  to  soldiers  and  sailors  and  to  their  widows  and 
orphans. 

THE  CIVIL  SERVICE. 

We  commend  the  policy  of  the  Republican  party  in  main- 
taining the  efficiency  of  the  civil  service.  The  administration 
has  acted  wisely  in  its  effort  to  secure  for  public  service  in 
Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  Hawaii,  and  the  Philippine  Islands,  only 
those  whose  fitness  has  been  determined  by  training  and  ex- 
perience. We  believe  that  employment  in  the  public  service 
in  these  territories  should  be  confined,  as  far  as  practicable, 
to  their  inhabitants. 

THE  RACE   QUESTION. 

It  was  the  plain  purpose  of  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  to  the 
Constitution,  to  prevent  discrimination  on  account  of  race  or 
color  in  regulating  the  elective  franchise.  Devices  of  state 
governments,  whether  by  statutory  or  constitutional  enact- 
ment, to  avoid  the  purpose  of  this  amendment  are  revolution- 
ary and  should  be  condemned. 

PUBLIC  ROADS. 

Public  movements  looking  to  a  permanent  improvement  of 
the  roads  and  highways  of  the  country  meet  with  our  cordial 
approval,  and  we  recommend  this  subject  to  the  earnest  con- 
sideration of  the  people  and  of  the  legislatures  of  the  several 
states. 

BURAL  FREE  DELIVERY. 

We  favor  the  extension  of  the  rural  free-delivery  service 
wherever  its  extension  may  be  justified. 

LAND-LEGISLATION. 

In  further  pursuance  of  the  constant  policy  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  to  provide  free  homes  on  the  public  domain,  we 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  345 

recommend  adequate  national  legislation  to  reclaim  the  arid 
lands  of  the  United  States,  reserving  control  of  the  distribu- 
tion of  water  for  irrigation  to  the  respective  states  and  terri- 
tories. 

NEW  STATES  PROPOSED. 

We  favor  home-rule  for,  and  the  early  admission  to  state- 
hood of,  the  territories  of  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  Oklahoma. 

REDUCTION   OF  WAB  TAXES. 

The  Dingley  Act,  amended  to  provide  sufficient  revenue  for 
the  conduct  of  the  war,  has  so  well  performed  its  work  that 
it  has  been  possible  to  reduce  the  war  debt  in  the  sum  of 
$40,000,000.  So  ample  are  the  government's  revenues  and  so 
great  is  the  public  confidence  in  the  integrity  of  its  obliga- 
tions, that  its  newly  funded  2  per  cent,  bonds  sell  at  a  premium. 
The  country  is  now  justified  in  expecting,  and  it  will  be  the 
policy  of  the  Republican  party  to  bring  about,  a  reduction  of 
the  war  taxes. 

ISTHMIAN  CANAL  AND  NEW  MARKETS. 

We  favor  the  construction,  ownership,  control,  and  protec- 
tion of  an  isthmian  canal  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  New  markets  are  necessary  for  the  increasing  surplus 
of  our  farm  products.  Every  effort  should  be  made  to  open 
and  obtain  new  markets,  especially  in  the  Orient,  and  the 
administration  is  to  be  warmly  commended  for  its  successful 
efforts  to  commit  all  trading  and  colonizing  nations  to  the 
policy  of  the  open  door  in  China. 

DEPARTMENT   OF  COMMERCE. 

In  the  interest  of  our  expanding  commerce  we  recommend 
that  Congress  create  a  Department  of  Commerce  and  Indus- 
tries, in  the  charge  of  a  secretary  with  a  seat  in  the  cabinet. 
The  United  States  consular  system  should  be  reorganized 
under  the  supervision  of  this  new  department,  upon  such  a 
basis  of  appointment  and  tenure  as  will  render  it  still  more 
serviceable  to  the  nation's  increasing  trade. 

PROTECTION   OF  CITIZENS. 

The  American  Government  must  protect  the  person  and 
property  of  every  citizen  wherever  they  are  wrongfully  vio- 
lated or  placed  in  peril. 


34:6       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

8EHVICES  OF  WOMEN. 

We  congratulate  the  women  of  America  upon  their  splendid 
record  of  public  service  in  the  Volunteer  Aid  Association  and 
as  nurses  in  camp  and  hospital  during  the  recent  campaigns 
of  our  armies  in  the  East  and  West  Indies,  and  we  appreciate 
their  faithful  co-operation  in  all  works  of  education  and 
industry. 

FOREIGN   AFFAIRS.      SAMOAN   AND   HAWAIIAN   ISLANDS. 

President  McKinley  has  conducted  the  foreign  affairs  of  the 
United  States  with  distinguished  credit  to  the  American  peo- 
ple. In  releasing  us  from  the  vexatious  conditions  of  a  Euro- 
pean alliance  for  the  government  of  Samoa,  his  course  is  espe- 
cially to  be  commended.  By  securing  to  our  undivided  control 
the  most  important  island  of  the  Samoan  group  and  the  best 
harbor  in  the  Southern  Pacific,  every  American  interest  has 
been  safeguarded. 

We  approve  the  annexation  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  to  the 
United  States. 

THE    HAGUE    CONFERENCE.      THE    MONROE    DOCTRINE.      THE    SOUTH 
AFRICAN   WAR. 

We  commend  the  part  taken  by  our  government  in  the  Peace 
Conference  at  The  Hague.  We  assert  our  steadfast  adherence 
to  the  policy  announced  in  the  Monroe  doctrine.  The  provi- 
sions of  The  Hague  convention  were  wisely  regarded  when 
President  McKinley  tendered  his  friendly  offices  in  the  interest 
of  peace  between  Great  Britain  and  the  South  African  Repub- 
lic. While  the  American  Government  must  continue  the  policy 
prescribed  by  Washington,  affirmed  by  every  succeeding  Presi- 
dent, and  imposed  upon  us  by  The  Hague  Treaty,  of  non- 
intervention in  European  controversies,  the  American  people 
earnestly  hope  that  a  way  may  soon  be  found,  honorable  alike 
to  both  contending  parties,  to  terminate  the  strife  between 
them. 

SOVEREIGNTY   IN  NEW  POSSESSIONS. 

In  accepting,  by  the  Treaty  of  Paris,  the  just  responsibility 
of  our  victories  in  the  Spanish  war,  the  President  and  the 
Senate  won  the  undoubted  approval  of  the  American  people. 
No  other  course  was  possible  than  to  destroy  Spain's  sover- 
eignty throughout  the  West  Indies  and  in  the  Philippine 
Islands.  That  course  created  our  responsibility  before  the 
world  and  with  the  unorganized  population  whom  our  inter- 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  347 

vention  had  freed  from  Spain,  to  provide  for  the  maintenance 
of  law  and  order,  and  for  the  establishment  of  good  govern- 
ment, and  for  the  performance  of  international  obligations. 

Our  authority  could  not  be  less  than  our  responsibility,  and 
wherever  sovereign  rights  were  extended  it  became  the  high 
duty  of  the  government  to  maintain  its  authority,  to  put  down 
armed  insurrection,  and  to  confer  the  blessings  of  liberty  and 
civilization  upon  all  the  rescued  peoples. 

The  largest  measure  of  self-government  consistent  with  their 
welfare  and  our  duties  shall  be  secured  to  them  by  law. 

INDEPENDENCE  OP  CUBA. 

To  Cuba,  independence  and  self-government  were  assured  in 
the  same  voice  by  which  war  was  declared,  and  to  the  letter 
this  pledge  shall  be  performed. 

INVOKES  THE  JUDGMENT  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

The  Republican  party,  upon  its  history  and  upon  this  declar- 
ation of  its  principles  and  policies,  confidently  invokes  the 
considerate  and  approving  judgment  of  the  American  people. 


People's  Party  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  MARION  C.  BUTLER,  of  North  Carolina. 
Secretary,  A.  J.  EDGERTON,  of  Colorado. 


PEOPLE'S  PARTY  CONVENTION. 

Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.,  May  9-10,  1900. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  P.  M.  RINGDALE, 

of  Minnesota. 

Chairman,  THOMAS  M.  PATTERSON, 

of  Colorado. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  William  J.  Bryan, 

of  Nebraska. 

For  Vice- President,  Adlai  E.  Stevenson, 

of  Illinois. 

The  nomination  of  William  J.  Bryan  for  President  was 
made  by  acclamation ;  this  having  been  a  foregone  conclu- 


348       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

sion,  the  question  of  the  nomination  of  a  candidate  for 
Vice-Presideut  gave  rise  to  a  spirited  contest,  the  friends 
of  Mr.  Bryan  leading  the  fight  against  it;  but  after  a  warm 
struggle  it  was  carried,  and  then  Charles  A.  Towne  was 
nominated  by  acclamation.  Mr.  Towne  withdrew  on 
August  7th  and  the  national  committee  of  the  party,  at  a 
meeting  held  in  Chicago  on  August  27th,  selected  Adlai  E. 
Stevenson  in  his  place. 

The  convention  comprised  856  delegates,  some  being 
women.  Not  all  of  the  states  and  territories  were  repre- 
sented. The  delegates  present  were  permitted  to  cast  the 
entire  number  of  votes  to  which  their  states  were  entitled. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted : — 

PEOPLE'S  PAKTY  PLATFOKM. 

The  People's  party  of  the  United  States,  in  convention  as- 
sembled, congratulating  its  supporters  on  the  wide  extension 
of  its  principles  in  all  directions,  does  hereby  reaffirm  its  ad- 
herence to  the  fundamental  principles  proclaimed  in  its  two 
prior  platforms  and  calls  upon  all  who  desire  to  avert  the  sub- 
version of  free  institutions  by  corporate  and  imperialistic 
power  to  unite  with  it  in  bringing  the  government  back  to  the 
ideals  of  Washington,  Jefferson,  Jackson,  and  Lincoln. 

It  extends  to  its  allies  in  the  struggle  for  financial  and  eco- 
nomic freedom  assurances  of  its  loyalty  to  the  principles 
which  animate  the  allied  forces  and  the  promise  of  honest 
and  hearty  co-operation  in  every  effort  for  their  success. 

To  the  people  of  the  United  States  we  offer  the  following 
platform  as  the  expression  of  our  unalterable  convictions: 

THE   GOLD    STANDARD   ACT,    BONDS,    CURRENCY   AND    BANKS. 

Resolved,  That  we  denounce  the  act  of  March  14,  1900,  as  the 
culmination  of  a  long  series  of  conspiracies  to  deprive  the 
people  of  their  constitutional  rights  over  the  money  of  the 
nation,  and  relegate  to  a  gigantic  money  trust  the  control  of 
the  purse,  and  hence  of  the  people. 

We  denounce  this  act,  first,  for  making  all  money  obliga- 
tions, domestic  and  foreign,  payable  in  gold  coin  or  its  equiva- 
lent, thus  enormously  increasing  the  burdens  of  the  debtors 
and  enriching  the  creditors. 

Second.    For   refunding    "  coin   bonds "   not   to    mature   for 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  349 

years  into  long-time  gold  bonds,  so  as  to  make  their  payment 
improbable  and  our  debt  perpetual. 

TMrd.  For  taking  from  the  treasury  over  $50,000,000  in  a 
time  of  war,  and  presenting  it  at  a  premium  to  bondholders, 
to  accomplish  the  refunding  of  bonds  not  due. 

Fourth.    For  doubling  the  capital  of  bankers  by  returning, 
to  them  the  face  value  of  their  bonds  in  current  money  notes, 
so  that  they  may  draw  one  interest  from  the  government  and 
another  from  the  people. 

Fifth.  For  allowing  banks  to  expand  and  contract  their 
circulation  at  pleasure,  thus  controlling  prices  of  all  products. 

Sixth.  For  authorizing  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  to  is- 
sue new  gold  bonds  to  an  unlimited  amount  whenever  he 
deems  it  necessary  to  replenish  the  gold  hoard,  thus  enabling 
usurers  to  secure  more  bonds  and  more  bank  currency,  by 
drawing  gold  from  the  treasury,  thereby  creating  an  "  endless 
chain  "  for  perpetually  adding  to  a  perpetual  debt. 

Seventh.  For  striking  down  the  greenback  in  order  to  force 
the  people  to  borrow  $346,000,000  more  from  the  banks,  at  an 
annual  cost  of  over  $20,000,000. 

While  barring  out  the  money  of  the  Constitution,  this  law 
opens  the  printing  mints  of  the  treasury  to  the  free  coinage 
of  bank  paper  money,  to  enrich  the  few  and  impoverish  the 
many. 

We  pledge  anew  the  People's  party  never  to  cease  the  agi- 
tation until  this  eighth  financial  conspiracy  is  blotted  from 
the  statute-books,  the  Lincoln  greenback  restored,  the  bonds 
all  paid,  and  all  corporation  money  forever  retired. 

FREE  COINAGE  OF   SILVEB. 

We  reaffirm  the  demand  for  the  reopening  of  the  mints  of 
the  United  States  to  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver 
and  gold  at  the  present  legal  ratio  of  16  to  1,  the  immediate 
increase  in  the  volume  of  silver  coins  and  certificates  thus 
created  to  be  substituted,  dollar  for  dollar,  for  the  bank  notes 
issued  by  private  corporations  under  special  privilege  granted 
by  law  of  March  14,  1900,  and  prior  national  banking  laws,  the 
remaining  portion  of  the  bank  notes  to  be  replaced  with  full 
legal-tender  government  paper  money,  and  its  volume  so  con- 
trolled as  to  maintain  at  all  times  a  stable  money  market  and 
a  stable  price-level. 

INCOME-TAX. 

We  demand  a  graduated  income  and  inheritance  tax,  to  the 
end  that  aggregated  wealth  shall  bear  its  just  proportion  of 
taxation. 


350       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


POSTAL   SAVTNGS-BANKS. 

We  demand  that  postal  savings-banks  be  established  by  the 
government  for  the  safe  deposit  of  the  savings  of  the  people 
and  to  facilitate  exchange. 

LAND  MONOPOLY  AND  HOMESTEADS. 

With  Thomas  Jefferson,  we  declare  the  land,  including  all 
natural  sources  of  wealth,  the  inalienable  heritage  of  the 
people.  Government  should  so  act  as  to  secure  homes  for  the 
people,  and  prevent  land  monopoly.  The  original  homestead 
policy  should  be  enforced,  and  future  settlers  upon  the  public 
domain  should  be  entitled  to  a  free  homestead,  while  all  who 
have  paid  an  acreage  price  to  the  government  under  existing 
laws  should  have  their  homestead  rights  restored. 

GOVERNMENT  OWNERSHIP  OF  BAILROADS. 

Transportation,  being  a  means  of  exchange  and  a  public 
necessity,  the  government  should  own  and  operate  the  rail- 
roads in  the  interest  of  the  people,  and  on  a  non-partisan 
basis,  to  the  end  that  all  may  be  accorded  the  same  treatment 
in  transportation,  and  that  the  extortion,  tyranny,  and  politi- 
cal power  now  exercised  by  the  great  railroad  corporations, 
which  result  in  the  impairment,  if  not  the  destruction,  of  the 
political  rights  and  personal  liberties  of  the  citizen,  may  be 
destroyed.  Such  ownership  is  to  be  accomplished  in  a  manner 
consistent  with  sound  public  policy. 

TRUSTS.     THE  INITIATIVE  AND  REFERENDUM. 

Trusts,  the  overshadowing  evil  of  the  age,  are  the  result  and 
culmination  of  the  private  ownership  and  control  of  the  three 
great  instruments  of  commerce — money,  transportation,  and 
the  means  of  transmission  of  information — which  instruments 
of  commerce  are  public  functions,  and  which  our  forefathers 
declared  in  the  Constitution  should  be  controlled  by  the  people 
through  their  Congress  for  the  public  welfare.  The  one 
remedy  for  the  trusts  is  that  the  ownership  and  control  be  as- 
sumed and  exercised  by  the  people.  We  further  demand  that 
all  tariffs  on  goods  controlled  by  a  trust  shall  be  abolished. 

To  cope  with  the  trust  evil,  the  people  must  act  directly, 
without  the  intervention  of  representatives,  who  may  be  con- 
trolled or  influenced.  We  therefore  demand  direct  legislation, 
giving  the  people  the  law-making  and  veto  power  under  the 
initiative  and  referendum.  A  majority  of  the  people  can  never 
be  corruptly  influenced. 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  351 

WAB  POLICY  CONDEMNED. 

Applauding  the  valor  of  our  army  and  navy  in  the  Spanish 
war,  we  denounce  the  conduct  of  the  administration  in  chang- 
ing a  war  of  humanity  into  a  war  of  conquest.  The  action  of 
the  administration  in  the  Philippines  is  in  conflict  with  all  the 
precedents  of  our  national  life;  at  war  with  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  the  Constitution,  and  the  plain  precepts  of  hu- 
manity. Murder  and  arson  have  been  our  response  to  the  ap- 
peals of  the  people  who  asked  only  to  establish  a  free  govern- 
ment in  their  own  land.  We  demand  a  stoppage  of  this  war  of 
extermination  by  the  assurance  to  the  Philippines  of  indepen- 
dence and  protection  under  a  stable  government  of  their  own 
creation. 

LEVYING  OF  CUSTOMS   DUTIES  IN  POETO   EICO. 

The  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  Constitution,  and  the 
American  flag  are  one  and  inseparable.  The  island  of  Porto 
Rico  is  a  part  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  and  by 
levying  special  and  extraordinary  customs  duties  on  the  com- 
merce of  that  island,  the  administration  has  violated  the  Con- 
stitution, abandoned  the  fundamental  principles  of  American 
liberty,  and  has  striven  to  give  the  lie  to  the  contention  of  our 
forefathers,  that  there  should  be  no  taxation  without  repre- 
sentation. 

IMPERIALISM  AND  MILITARISM. 

Out  of  the  imperialism  which  would  force  an  undesired 
domination  on  the  people  of  the  Philippines,  springs  the  un- 
American  cry  for  a  large  standing  army.  Nothing  in  the  char- 
acter or  purposes  of  our  people  justifies  us  in  ignoring  the 
plain  lesson  of  history  and  putting  our  liberties  in  jeopardy 
by  assuming  the  burden  of  militarism,  which  is  crushing  the 
people  of  the  Old  World.  We  denounce  the  administration  for 
its  sinister  efforts  to  substitute  a  standing  army  for  the  citi- 
zen soldiery,  which  is  the  best  safeguard  of  the  republic. 

SYMPATHY  FOB   THE   BOEB8. 

We  extend  to  the  brave  Boers  of  South  Africa  our  sympathy 
and  moral  support  in  their  patriotic  struggle  for  the  right  of 
self-government,  and  we  are  unalterably  opposed  to  any  al- 
liance, open  or  covert,  between  the  United  States  and  any 
other  nation  that  will  tend  to  the  destruction  of  human  liberty. 

IMPEBIALJ8M  IN  IDAHO. 

A  further  manifestation  of  imperialism  is  to  be  found  in  the 
mining  districts  of  Idaho.  In  the  Cceur  d'Alene  soldiers  have 


352       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

been  used  to  overawe  miners  striving  for  a  greater  measure  of 
industrial  independence.  We  denounce  the  state  government 
of  Idaho  and  the  federal  government  for  employing  the  mili- 
tary arm  of  the  government  to  abridge  the  civil  rights  of  the 
people,  and  to  enforce  an  infamous  permit  system  which  de- 
nies to  laborers  their  inherent  liberty  and  compels  them  to 
forswear  their  manhood  and  their  right  before  being  permitted 
to  seek  employment. 

MONGOLIAN  AND  MALAYAN  IMMIGRATION. 

The  importation  of  Japanese  and  other  laborers  under  con- 
tract to  serve  monopolistic  corporations  is  a  notorious  and 
flagrant  violation  of  the  immigration  laws.  We  demand  that 
the  federal  government  take  cognizance  of  this  menacing  evil 
and  repress  it  under  existing  laws.  We  further  pledge  our~ 
selves  to  strive  for  the  enactment  of  more  stringent  laws  for 
the  exclusion  of  Mongolian  and  Malayan  immigration. 

FOR  MUNICIPAL  OWNERSHIP. 

We  indorse  municipal  ownership  of  public  utilities,  and  de- 
clare that  the  advantages  which  have  accrued  to  the  public 
under  that  system  would  be  multiplied  a  hundredfold  by  its 
extension  to  natural  interstate  monopolies. 

INJUNCTIONS  IN  LABOR  TROUBLES. 

We  denounce  the  practice  of  issuing  injunctions  in  cases 
of  dispute  between  employers  and  employees,  making  criminal, 
acts  by  organizations  which  are  not  criminal  when  performed 
by  individuals,  and  demand  legislation  to  restrain  the  evil. 

FOR  DIRECT  VOTE  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

We  demand  that  United  States  Senators  and  all  other  offi- 
cials, as  far  as  practicable,  be  elected  by  direct  vote  of  the 
people. 

COERCION  AND  INTIMIDATION. 

Believing  that  the  elective  franchise  and  untrammeled  ballot 
are  essential  to  a  government  of,  for,  and  by  the  people,  the 
People's  party  condemns  the  wholesale  system  of  disfranchise- 
ment  by  coercion  and  intimidation  adopted  in  some  states 
as  unrepublican  and  undemocratic,  and  we  declare  it  to  be  the 
duty  of  the  several  state  legislatures  to  take  such  action  as 
will  secure  a  full,  free,  and  fair  ballot  and  an  honest  count. 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  353 

HOME-RULE  FOB  TERRITORIES. 

We  favor  home-rule  in  the  territories  and  the  District  of 
Columbia,  and  the  early  admission  of  the  territories  as  states. 

PENSION  ADMINISTRATION. 

We  denounce  the  expensive  red-tape  system,  political  favor- 
itism, cruel  and  unnecessary  delay,  and  criminal  evasion  of 
the  statutes  in  the  management  of  the  pension  office,  and  de- 
mand the  simple  and  honest  execution  of  the  law,  and  the  ful- 
fillment by  the  nation  of  its  pledges  of  service  pension  to  all 
its  honorably  discharged  veterans. 


People's  Party  (MiddU-of -the- Road)  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  J.  A.  PARKER,  of  Kentucky. 
Secretary, 


PEOPLE'S  PARTY  (Middle-of-the-Road)  CONVENTION. 

Cincinnati,  O.,  May  9-10, 1900. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  M.  W.  HOWARD, 

of  Alabama. 

Chairman,  W.  L.  PEEK, 

of  Georgia. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Wharton  Barker, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

For  Vice-President,  Ignatius  Donnelly, 

of  Minnesota. 

This  convention  represented  that  faction  of  the  People's 
party  which  was  opposed  to  fusion  and  bolted  at  the  con- 
vention of  1896,  at  St.  Louis.  The  term  "  middle-of-the- 


354:       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

road"  is  taken  from  the  adjuration  of  Milton  Park,  of 
Texas,  who  led  the  bolt,  to  "Keep  in  the  middle  of  the 
road."  Wharton  Barker  was  nominated  for  President  on 
the  second  ballot.  The  following  is  the  vote  in  detail : 


CANDIDATES. 

1st. 

2d. 

M.  W.  HOWARD, 

326  A 

336 

"WHARTON  BARKER, 

314  At 

370 

IGNATIUS  DONNELLY, 

70 

7 

S.  F.  NORTON  

of  Illinois  

3 

2 

Whole  number  of  votes  

714 

715 

358 

358 

For  Vice-President,  Ignatius  Donnelly,  of  Minnesota, 
was  unanimously  nominated. 

The  convention  also  elected  J  A.  Parker,  of  Kentucky, 
as  chairman  of  the  National  Committee,  instead  of  permit- 
ting the  committee  to  choose  its  leader. 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

PEOPLE'S  PARTY  (MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD)  PLATFORM. 

The  People's  party  of  the  United  States,  assembled  in  na- 
tional convention  this  10th  day  of  May,  1900,  affirming  our 
unshaken  belief  in  the  cardinal  tenets  of  the  People's  party 
as  set  forth  in  the  Omaha  platform,  and  pledging  ourselves 
anew  to  continued  advocacy  of  those  grand  principles  of  hu- 
man liberty  until  right  shall  triumph  over  might  and  love  over 
greed,  do  adopt  and  proclaim  this  declaration  of  faith: 

THE  INITIATIVE  AND  REFERENDUM. 

First.  We  demand  the  initiative  and  referendum,  and  the 
imperative  mandate  for  such  changes  of  existing  fundamental 
and  statute  law  as  will  enable  the  people  in  their  sovereign 
capacity  to  propose  and  compel  the  enactment  of  such  laws  as 
they  desire,  to  reject  such  as  they  deem  injurious  to  their  in- 
terests, and  to  recall  unfaithful  public  servants. 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  355 

PUBLIC   OWNERSHIP   OF  RAILROADS,   TELEGRAPH,   ETC. 

Second.  We  demand  the  public  ownership  and  operation 
of  those  means  of  communication,  transportation  and  produc- 
tion which  the  people  may  elect,  such  as  railroads,  telegraph 
and  telephone  lines,  coal  mines,  etc. 

AGAINST  ALIEN  AND  SPECULATIVE  OWNERSHIP   OF  LAND. 

TMrd.  The  land,  including  all  natural  sources  of  wealth, 
is  a  heritage  of  the  people  and  should  not  be  monopolized  for 
speculative  purposes,  and  alien  ownership  of  land  should  be 
prohibited.  All  land  now  held  by  railroads  and  other  corpora- 
tions in  excess  of  their  actual  needs,  and  all  lands  now  owned 
by  aliens,  should  be  reclaimed  by  the  government  and  held  for 
actual  settlers  only. 

FOR  PAPER  MONET  AND  FREE  COINAGE  OF  SILVER. 

Fourth.  A  scientific  and  absolute  paper  money,  based  upon 
the  entire  wealth  and  population  of  the  nation,  not  redeem- 
able in  any  specific  commodity,  but  made  a  full  legal  tender 
for  all  debts  and  receivable  for  all  taxes  and  public  dues,  and 
issued  by  the  government  only,  without  the  intervention  of 
banks,  and  in  sufficient  quantity  to  meet  the  demands  of  com- 
merce, is  the  best  currency  that  can  be  devised;  but  until  such 
a  financial  system  is  secured,  which  we  shall  press  for  adop- 
tion, we  favor  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  both  silver 
and  gold  at  the  legal  ratio  of  16  to  1. 

FOR  A  GRADUATED  INCOME-TAX. 

Fifth.  We  demand  the  levy  and  collection  of  a  graduated 
tax  on  incomes  and  inheritances,  and  a  constitutional  amend- 
ment to  secure  the  same,  if  necessary. 

FOR  DIRECT  VOTE  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

Sixth.  We  demand  the  election  of  President,  Vice-Presi- 
dent, federal  judges,  and  United  States  Senators  by  direct  vote 
of  the  people. 

TRUSTS  AND  THE  OLD   PARTIES. 

Seventh.  We  are  opposed  to  trusts,  and  declare  the  conten- 
tion between  the  old  parties  on  the  monopoly  question  is  a 
sham  battle,  and  that  no  solution  of  this  mighty  problem  is 
possible  without  the  adoption  of  the  principles  of  public  own- 
ership of  public  utilities, 


356 


Silver  Republican  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  D.  0.  TILLOTSON,  of  Kansas. 
Secretary,  E.  0.  COKSEE,  of  Minnesota. 


SILVER  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Kansas  City,  Mo.,  July  4-6,  1900. 

! 

Chairman  pro  tern.,  HENRY  M.  TELLER, 

of  Colorado. 

Chairman,  L.  W.  BROWN, 

of  Ohio. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  William  J.  Bryan, 

of  Nebraska. 

For  Vice-President,  Adlai  E.  Stevenson, 

of  Illinois. 

This  convention  was  composed  of  about  1200  delegates 
and  visitors,  representing  twenty-four  states  and  territories. 
Only  seven  states  east  of  the  Mississippi  Eiver  were  repre- 
sented. The  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read  on 
July  4.  William  J.  Bryan  was  nominated  for  President 
by  acclamation.  No  nomination  was  made  for  Vice-Pres- 
ident, the  National  Committee  of  the  party  being  empow- 
ered to  determine  upon  a  candidate.  This  committee,  at  a 
meeting  held  on  July  7,  at  Kansas  City,  indorsed  the  nom- 
ination of  Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  the  Democratic  candidate. 
\  The  following  platform  was  adopted: — 

SILVER  REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

We,  the  Silver  Republican  party,  in  national  convention 
assembled,  declare  these  as  our  principles  and  invite  the  co- 
operation of  all  who  agree  therewith: 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  357 

PRINCIPLES  OF  THE  FOREFATHERS. 

We  recognize  that  the  principles  set  forth  in  the  Declaration 
of  American  Independence  are  fundamental  and  everlastingly 
true  in  their  application  to  governments  among  men.  We 
believe  the  patriotic  words  of  Washington's  farewell  to  be  the 
words  of  soberness  and  wisdom,  inspired  by  the  spirit  of  right 
and  truth.  We  treasure  the  words  of  Jefferson  as  priceless 
gems  of  American  statesmanship.  We  hold  in  sacred  remem- 
brance the  broad  philanthropy  and  patriotism  of  Lincoln,  who 
was  the  great  interpreter  of  American  history  and  the  great 
apostle  of  human  rights  and  of  industrial  freedom;  and  we 
declare,  as  was  declared  by  the  convention  that  nominated 
the -great  emancipator,  that  the  maintenance  of  the  principles 
promulgated  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  embodied 
in  the  Federal  Constitution — "  that  all  men  are  created  equal; 
that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalien- 
able rights;  that  among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit 
of  happiness;  that  to  secure  these  rights  governments  are  in- 
stituted among  men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  con- 
sent of  the  governed  " — is  essential  to  the  preservation  of  our 
republican  institutions. 

PRINCIPLE  OF  BIMETALLISM. 

We  declare  our  adherence  to  the  principle  of  bimetallism  as 
the  right  basis  of  a  monetary  system  under  our  national  Con- 
stitution— a  principle  that  found  place  repeatedly  in  Republi- 
can platforms,  from  the  demonetization  of  silver  in  1873  to 
the  St.  Louis  Republican  Convention  in  1896.  Since  that  con- 
vention a  Republican  Congress  and  a  Republican  President, 
at  the  dictation  of  the  trusts  and  money  power,  have  passed 
and  approved  a  currency  bill  which  in  itself  is  a  repudiation 
of  the  doctrine  of  bimetallism  advocated  theretofore  by  the 
President  and  every  great  leader  of  his  party. 

EFFECT  OF  THE  CURRENCY  LAW. 

This  currency  law  destroys  the  full  money  power  of  the 
silver  dollar,  provides  for  the  payment  of  all  government  obli- 
gations and  the  redemption  of  all  forms  of  paper  money  in 
gold  alone;  retires  the  time-honored  and  patriotic  greenbacks, 
constituting  one-sixth  of  the  money  in  circulation,  and  sur- 
renders to  banking  corporations  a  sovereign  function  of  issuing 
all  paper  money,  thus  enabling  these  corporations  to  control 
the  prices  of  labor  and  property  by  increasing  or  diminishing 


358       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

the  volume  of  money  in  circulation,  and  thus  giving  the  banks 
power  to  create  panics  and  bring  disaster  upon  business 
enterprises. 

The  provisions  of  this  currency  law  making  the  bonded  debt 
of  the  republic  payable  in  gold  alone,  change  contracts  between 
the  government  and  the  bondholders  to  the  advantage  of  the 
latter,  and  are  in  direct  opposition  to  the  declaration  of  tha 
Matthews  resolution  passed  by  Congress  in  1878,  for  which 
resolution  the  present  Republican  President,  then  a  member 
of  Congress,  voted,  as  did  also  all  leading  Republicans,  both  in 
the  House  and  Senate. 

FOR  REPEAL  OP  PBESENT  CURRENCY  LAW  AND  ENACTMENT  OF 
NEW  LAW. 

We  declare  it  to  be  our  intention  to  lend  our  efforts  to  the 
repeal  of  this  currency  law,  which  not  only  repudiates  the 
ancient  and  time-honored  principles  of  the  American  people 
before  the  Constitution  was  adopted,  but  is  violative  of  the 
principles  of  the  Constitution  itself;  and  we  shall  not  cease 
our  efforts  until  there  has  been  established  in  its  place  a 
monetary  system  based  upon  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage 
of  silver  and  gold  into  money  at  the  present  legal  ratio  of 
16  to  1  by  the  independent  action  of  the  United  States,  under 
which  system  all  paper  money  shall  be  issued  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  all  such  money  coined  or  issued  shall  be  a  full  legal 
tender  in  payment  of  all  debts,  public  and  private,  without 
exception. 

INCOME-TAX. 

We  are  in  favor  of  a  graduated  tax  upon  incomes,  and,  if 
necessary  to  accomplish  this,  we  favor  an  amendment  to  the 
Constitution. 

POPULAR  ELECTION   OF   SENATORS. 

We  believe  that  United  States  Senators  ought  to  be  elected 
by  a  direct  vote  of  the  people,  and  we  favor  such  amendment 
of  the  Constitution  and  such  legislation  as  may  be  necessary 
to  that  end. 

THE   MERIT   SYSTEM. 

We  favor  the  maintenance  and  the  extension,  wherever  prac- 
ticable, of  the  merit  system  in  the  public  service,  appointments 
to  be  made  according  to  fitness,  competitively  ascertained,  and 
public  servants  to  be  retained  in  office  only  so  long  as  shall  be 
compatible  with  the  efficiency  of  the  service. 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  359 

TRUSTS. 

Combinations,  trusts,  and  monopolies  contrived  and  arranged 
for  the  purpose  of  controlling  the  prices  and  quantity  of  arti- 
cles supplied  to  the  public  are  unjust,  unlawful,  and  oppressive. 
Not  only  do  these  unlawful  conspiracies  fix  the  prices  of  com- 
modities in  many  cases,  but  they  invade  every  branch  of  the 
state  and  national  government  with  their  polluting  influence, 
and  control  the  actions  of  their  employees  and  dependents  in 
private  life,  until  their  influence  actually  imperils  society  and 
the  liberty  of  the  citizen.  We  declare  against  them.  We  de- 
mand the  most  stringent  laws  for  their  destruction,  the  most 
severe  punishment  of  their  promoters  and  maintainers,  and  the 
energetic  enforcement  of  such  laws  by  the  courts. 

MONROE    DOCTRINE    AND    NICABAGUAN    CANAL. 

We  believe  the  Monroe  doctrine  to  be  sound  in  principle 
and  a  wise  national  policy,  and  we  demand  a  firm  adherence 
thereto.  We  condemn  acts  inconsistent  with  it  and  that  tend 
to  make  us  parties  to  the  interests  and  to  involve  us  in  the 
controversies  of  European  nations,  and  to  recognition,  by 
pending  treaty,  of  the  right  of  England  to  be  considered  in  the 
construction  of  an  inter-oceanic  canal.  We  favor  the  speedy 
construction  of  the  Nicaraguan  canal,  to  be  built,  owned,  and 
defended  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 

ALIEN  OWNERSHIP  OF   LAND  AND  FRANCHISES. 

We  observe  with  anxiety  and  regard  with  disapproval  the 
increasing  ownership  of  American  lands  by  aliens,  and  their 
growing  control  over  international  transportation,  natural 
resources,  and  public  utilities.  We  demand  legislation  to  pro- 
tect our  public  domain,  our  natural  resources,  our  franchises, 
and  our  internal  commerce,  and  to  keep  them  free  and  main- 
lain  their  independence  of  all  foreign  monopolies,  institutions, 
and  influences,  and  we  declare  our  opposition  to  the  leasing 
of  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States,  whereby  corporations 
and  syndicates  will  be  able  to  secure  control  thereof  and  thus 
monopolize  the  public  domain,  the  heritage  of  the  people. 

DIRECT   LEGISLATION. 

Wo  are  in  favor  of  the  principles  of  direct  legislation. 

PENSIONS. 

In  view  of  the  great  sacrifice  made  and  patriotic  services 
rendered,  we  are  in  favor  of  liberal  pensions  to  deserving 


300       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND' PLATFORMS. 

soldiers,  their  widows,  orphans  and  other  dependents.  We 
believe  that  enlistment  and  service  should  be  accepted  as 
conclusive  proof  that  the  soldier  was  free  from  disease  and 
disability  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment.  We  condemn  the 
present  administration  of  the  pension  laws. 

SYMPATHY  FOB  THE  BOEBS. 

We  tender  to  the  patriotic  people  of  the  South  African 
republic  our  sympathy  and  express  our  admiration  for  them  in 
their  heroic  attempts  to  preserve  their  political  freedom  and 
maintain  their  national  independence.  We  declare  the  de- 
struction of  those  republics  and  the  subjugation  of  their  people 
to  be  a  crime  against  civilization.  We  believe  this  sympathy 
should  have  been  voiced  by  the  American  Congress,  as  was 
done  in  the  case  of  the  French,  the  Greeks,  the  Hungarians, 
the  Polanders,  the  Armenians,  and  the  Cubans,  and  as  the 
traditions  of  this  country  would  have  dictated. 

POBTO  RICAN  TARIFF  LAW. 

We  declare  the  Porto  Rican  Tariff  Law  to  be  not  only  a 
serious  but  a  dangerous  departure  from  the  principles  of  our 
form  of  government.  We  believe  in  a  republican  form  of 
government,  and  are  opposed  to  monarchy  and  to  the  whole 
theory  of  imperialistic  control. 

THE   PHILIPPINES. 

We  believe  in  self-government —  a  government  by  consent  of 
the  governed — and  are  unalterably  opposed  to  a  government 
based  upon  force.  It  is  clear  and  certain  that  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Philippine  archipelago  cannot  be  made  citizens  of  the 
United  States  without  endangering  our  civilization.  We  are 
therefore  in  favor  of  applying  to  the  Philippine  archipelago 
the  principle  we  are  solemnly  and  publicly  pledged  to  observe 
in  the  case  of  Cuba. 

WAB-TAXES. 

There  being  no  longer  any  necessity  for  collecting  war-taxes, 
we  demand  the  repeal  of  the  war-taxes  levied  to  carry  on  the 
war  with  Spain. 

ADMISSION   OF  TEBBITOBIES. 

We  favor  the  immediate  admission  into  the  Union  of  States 
the  Territories  of  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  Oklahoma, 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  361 

PLEDGES  TO  CUBA. 

We  demand  that  our  nation's  promises  to  Cuba  shall  be  ful- 
filled in  every  particular. 

ARID  LANDS. 

We  believe  the  national  government  should  lend  every  aid, 
encouragement,  and  assistance  toward  the  reclamation  of  the 
arid  lands  of  the  United  States,  and  to  that  end  we  are  in  favor 
of  a  comprehensive  survey  thereof  and  an  immediate  ascertain- 
ment of  the  water-supply  available  for  such  reclamation,  and 
we  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  general  government  to 
provide  for  the  construction  of  storage  reservoirs  and  irriga- 
tion works,  so  that  the  water-supply  of  the  arid  region  may 
be  utilized  to  the  greatest  possible  extent  in  the  interests  of 
the  people,  while  preserving  all  rights  of  the  state. 

OWNERSHIP  OF  PUBLIC  UTILITIES. 

Transportation  is  a  public  necessity,  and  the  means  of  and 
methods  of  it  are  matters  of  public  concern.  Railway  com- 
panies exercise  a  power  over  industries,  business,  and  com- 
merce which  they  ought  not  to  do,  and  should  be  made  to  serve 
the  public  interests  without  making  unreasonable  charges  or 
unjust  discrimination.  We  observe  with  satisfaction  the  grow- 
ing sentiment  among  the  people  in  favor  of  the  public  owner- 
ship and  operation  of  public  utilities. 

WHEN   WAB  IS  JUSTIFIED  AND  WHEN  IMMORAL. 

Peace  is  the  virtue  of  civilization  and  war  is  its  crime.  War 
is  only  justified  when  the  oppressors  of  humanity  will  heed  no 
other  appeal,  and  when  the  enemies  of  liberty  will  respond  to 
no  other  demand.  However  high  and  pure  may  be  the  pur- 
poses of  an  appeal  to  arms  in  the  beginning,  war  becomes 
immoral  when  continued  for  the  purpose  of  subjugation,  or  for 
national  aggrandizement. 

COMMERCIAL  EXPANSION. 

We  are  in  favor  of  expanding  our  commerce  in  the  interests 
of  American  labor  and  for  the  benefit  of  all  our  people,  by 
every  honest  and  peaceful  means,  but  when  war  is  waged  to 
extend  trade,  force  commerce,  or  to  acquire  wealth,  it  is 
national  piracy.  Our  creed  and  our  history  justify  the  nations 
of  the  earth  in  expecting  that  wherever  the  American  flag  is 
unfurled  in  authority,  human  liberty  and  political  freedom 


362       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

will  be  found.  We  protest  against  the  adoption  of  any  policy 
that  will  change,  in  the  thought  of  the  world,  the  meaning  of 
our  flag.  We  insist  that  it  shall  never  float  over  any  vessel 
or  wave  at  the  head  of  any  column  directed  against  the  politi- 
cal independence  of  any  people  or  of  any  race,  or  in  any  clime. 

OPPOSITION  TO  ASIATIC  LABORERS. 

We  are  opposed  to  the  importation  of  Asiatic  laborers  in 
competition  with  American  labor,  and  advocate  a  more  rigid 
enforcement  of  the  laws  relating  thereto. 

TO  PEKPETUATE  THE   SPIBIT   AND   TEACHINGS   OF   LINCOLN. 

The  Silver  Republican  party  of  the  United  States,  in  the 
foregoing  principles,  seeks  to  perpetuate  the  spirit  and  to 
adhere  to  the  teachings  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 


Prohibition  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  OLIVER  W.  STEWART,  of  Illinois. 
Secretary,  WILLIAM  T.  WARDWELL,  of  New  York. 


PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  27-28, 1900. 

Chairman  pro  tern,  and  permanent  Chairman, 

SAMUEL  DICKIE, 

of  Michigan. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  JOHN  G.  WOOLLEY, 

of  Illinois. 

For  Vice-President,  HENRY  B.  METCALF, 

of  Rhode  Island. 

The  number  of  delegates  present  at  this  convention  was 
735,  representing  forty  states.  John  G.  Woolley  was  nom- 
inated for  President  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  380  votes, 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  363 

as  against  320  cast  for  Rev.  Dr.  Silas  C.  Swallow,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. For  Vice-President  the  names  of  Rev.  E.  L. 
Eaton,  of  Iowa;  Thomas  R.  Carskadon,  of  West  Virginia; 
Henry  B.  Metcalf,  of  Rhode  Island ;  and  James  A.  Tate, 
of  Tennessee,  were  presented.  Mr.  Tate  withdrew.  Henry 
B.  Metcalf  was  nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  as  follows : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

H  F.NRY  B   METCALF  of  Rhode  I  sland  

349 

180 

113 

The  convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

PREAMBLE. 

The  National  Prohibition  party,  in  convention  represented, 
at  Chicago,  June  27  and  28,  1900,  acknowledge  Almighty  God 
as  the  Supreme  Source  of  all  just  government  Realizing  that 
this  republic  was  founded  upon  Christian  principles  and  can 
endure  only  as  it  embodies  justice  and  righteousness,  and 
asserting  that  all  authority  should  seek  the  best  good  of  all 
the  governed,  to  this  end  wisely  prohibiting  what  is  wrong 
and  permitting  only  what  is  right,  hereby  records  and  pro- 
claims: 

DEFINITION    OF   PARTY.      PROHIBITION    THE   MOST   IMPORTANT 
PARTY  PRINCIPLE. 

We  accept  and  assert  the  definition  given  by  Edmund  Burke, 
that  "  a  party  is  a  body  of  men  joined  together  for  the  purpose 
of  promoting,  by  their  joint  endeavor,  the  national  interest 
upon  some  particular  principle  upon  which  they  are  all 
agreed."  We  declare  that  there  is  no  principle  now  advo- 
cated, by  any  other  party,  which  could  be  made  a  fact  in 
government  with  such  beneficent  moral  and  material  results 
as  the  principle  of  prohibition,  applied  to  the  beverage  liquor 
traffic;  that  the  national  interest  could  be  promoted  in  no 
other  way  so  surely  and  widely  as  by  its  adoption  and  asser- 


364:       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFOBMS. 

tion  through  a  national  policy,  and  the  co-operation  therein 
of  every  state,  forbidding  the  manufacture,  sale,  exportation, 
importation,  and  transportation  of  intoxicating  liquors  for 
beverage  purposes;  that  we  stand  for  this  as  the  only  principle, 
proposed  by  any  party  anywhere,  for  the  settlement  of  a  ques- 
tion greater  and  graver  than  any  other  before  the  American 
people,  and  involving  more  profoundly,  than  any  other  their 
moral  future,  and  financial  welfare;  and  that  all  the  patriotic 
citizenship  of  this  country,  agreed  upon  this  principle,  how- 
ever much  disagreement  there  may  be  as  to  minor  considera- 
tions and  issues,  should  stand  together  at  the  ballot-box,  from 
this  time  forward,  until  prohibition  is  the  established  policy 
of  the  United  States,  with  a  party  in  power  to  enforce  it  and 
to  insure  its  moral  and  material  benefits. 

OTHER  AND   LESSER   PROBLEMS  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

We  insist  that  such  a  party,  agreed  upon  this  principle  and 
policy,  having  sober  leadership,  without  any  obligation  for 
success  to  the  saloon  vote  and  to  those  demoralizing  political 
combinations  of  men  and  money  now  allied  therewith  and 
suppliant  thereto,  could  successfully  cope  with  all  other  and 
lesser  problems  of  government,  in  legislative  halls  and  in  the 
executive  chair,  and  that  it  is  useless  for  any  party  to  make 
declarations  in  its  platform  as  to  any  questions  concerning 
which  there  may  be  serious  differences  of  opinion  in  its  own 
membership,  and  as  to  which,  because  of  such  differences,  the 
party  could  legislate  only  on  a  basis  of  mutual  concessions 
when  coming  into  power. 

TRUSTS  AND  MONOPOLIES. 

We  submit  that  the  Democratic  and  Republican  parties  are 
alike  insincere  in  their  assumed  hostility  to  trusts  and  monop- 
olies. They  dare  not  and  do  not  attack  the  most  dangerous  of 
them  all,  the  liquor  power.  So  long  as  the  saloon  debauches 
the  citizen  and  breeds  the  purchasable  voter,  money  will  con- 
tinue to  buy  its  way  to  power.  Break  down  this  traffic,  elevate 
manhood,  and  a  sober  citizenship  will  find  a  way  to  control 
dangerous  combinations  of  capital. 

THE  FINANCIAL  PROBLEM. 

We  propose  as  a  first  step  in  the  financial  problems  of  the 
nation  to  save  more  than  a  billion  of  dollars  every  year,  now 
annually  expended  to  support  the  liquor  traffic  and  to  demor- 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  365 

alize  our  people.  When  that  is  accomplished,  conditions  will 
have  so  improved  that,  with  a  clearer  atmosphere,  the  country 
can  address  itself  to  the  questions  as  to  the  kind  and  quantity 
of  currency  needed. 

THE   OVERWHELMING   ISSUE   OF  AMERICAN  POLITICS. 

We  reaffirm  as  true  indisputably  the  declaration  of  William 
Windom  when  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in  the  cabinet  of 
President  Arthur,  that  "  Considered  socially,  financially,  politi- 
cally, or  morally,  the  licensed  liquor  traffic  is  or  ought  to  be 
the  overwhelming  issue  in  American  politics,"  and  that  "  the 
destruction  of  this  iniquity  stands  next  on  the  calendar  of  the 
world's  progress."  We  hold  that  the  existence  of  our  party 
presents  this  issue  squarely  to  the  American  people,  and  lays 
upon  them  the  responsibility  of  choice  between  liquor  parties, 
dominated  by  distillers  and  brewers,  with  their  policy  of 
saloon-perpetuation,  breeding  waste,  wickedness,  woe,  pau- 
perism, taxation,  corruption  and  crime,  and  our  one  party  of 
patriotic  and  moral  principle,  with  a  policy  which  defends  it 
from  domination  by  corrupt  bosses  and  which  insures  it  for- 
ever against  the  blighting  control  of  saloon  politics. 

We  face  with  sorrow,  shame,  and  fear  the  awful  fact  that 
this  liquor  traffic  has  a  grip  on  our  government,  municipal, 
state,  and  national,  through  the  revenue  system  and  saloon 
sovereignty,  which  no  other  party  dares  to  dispute;  a  grip 
which  dominates  the  party  now  in  power,  from  caucus  to 
Congress,  from  policeman  to  President,  from  the  rumshop  to 
the  White  House;  a  grip  which  compels  the  chief  executive  to 
consent  that  law  shall  be  nullified  in  behalf  of  the  brewer, 
that  the  canteen  shall  curse  our  army  and  spread  intemperance 
across  the  seas,  and  that  our  flag  shall  wave  as  the  symbol  of 
partnership,  at  home  and  abroad,  between  this  government 
and  the  men  who  defy  and  defile  it  for  their  unholy  gain. 

PRESIDENT   MCKINLEY  ARRAIGNED. 

We  charge  upon  President  McKinley,  who  was  elected  to 
his  high  office  by  appeals  to  Christian  sentiment  and  patriot- 
ism almost  unprecedented  and  by  a  combination  of  moral 
influences  never  before  seen  in  this  country,  that,  by  his  con- 
spicuous example  as  a  wine-drinker  at  public  banquets  and  as 
a  wine-serving  host  in  the  White  House,  he  has  done  more  to 
encourage  the  liquor  business,  to  demoralize  the  temperance 
habits  of  young  men,  and  to  bring  Christian  practices  and 


366       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

requirements  into  disrepute,  than  any  other  President  this 
republic  has  ever  had.  We  further  charge  upon  President  Mc- 
Kinley  responsibility  for  the  army  canteen,  with  all  its  dire 
brood  of  disease,  immorality,  sin,  and  death,  in  this  country, 
in  Cuba,  in  Porto  Rico,  and  the  Philippines;  and  we  insist  that 
by  his  attitude  concerning  the  canteen,  and  his  apparent  con- 
tempt for  the  vast  number  of  petitions  and  petitioners  pro- 
testing against  it,  he  has  outraged  and  insulted  the  moral 
sentiment  of  this  country  in  such  a  manner  and  to  such  a 
degree  as  calls  for  its  righteous  uprising  and  his  indignant  and 
effective  rebuke. 

We  challenge  denial  of  the  fact  that  our  Chief  Executive,  as 
commander  in  chief  of  the  military  forces  of  the  United  States, 
at  any  time  prior  to  or  since  March  2,  1899,  could  have  closed 
every  army  saloon,  called  a  canteen,  by  executive  order,  as 
President  Hayes  in  effect  did  before  him,  and  should  have 
closed  them,  for  the  same  reasons  which  actuated  President 
Hayes;  we  assert  that  the  act  of  Congress  passed  March  2, 
1899,  forbidding  the  sale  of  liquor  "  in  any  post-exchange  or 
canteen,"  by  any  "  officer  or  private  soldier  "  or  by  "  any  other 
person  on  any  premises  used  for  military  purposes  in  the 
United  States,"  was  and  is  ao  explicit  an  act  of  prohibition  as 
the  English  language  can  frame;  we  declare  our  solemn  belief 
that  the  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States  in  his  inter- 
pretation of  that  law,  and  the  Secretary  of  War  in  his  accept- 
ance of  that  interpretation  and  his  refusal  to  enforce  the  law, 
were  and  are  guilty  of  treasonable  nullification  thereof,  and 
that  President  McKinley,  through  his  assent  to  and  indorse- 
ment of  such  interpretation  and  refusal,  on  the  part  of  officials 
appointed  by  and  responsible  to  him,  shares  responsibly  in 
their  guilt;  and  we  record  our  conviction  that  a  new  and 
serious  peril  confronts  our  country,  in  the  fact  that  its  Presi- 
dent, at  the  behest  of  the  beer  power,  dare  and  does  abrogate 
a  law  of  Congress,  through  subordinates  removable  at  will  by 
him  and  whose  acts  become  his,  and  thus  virtually  confesses 
that  laws  are  to  be  administered  or  to  be  nullified  in  the  in- 
terest of  a  law-defying  business,  by  an  administration  under 
mortgage  to  such  business  for  support. 

LIQTJOK  POLICY  IN  NEW  POSSESSIONS. 

We  deplore  the  fact  that  an  administration  of  this  republic 
claiming  the  right  and  power  to  carry  our  flag  across  seas, 
and  to  conquer  and  annex  new  territory,  should  admit  its  lack 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  367 

of  power  to  prohibit  the  American  saloon  on  subjugated  soil, 
or  should  openly  confess  itself  subject  to  liquor  sovereignty 
under  that  flag.  We  are  humiliated,  exasperated  and  grieved, 
by  the  evidence  painfully  abundant,  that  this  administration's 
policy  of  expansion  is  bearing  so  rapidly  its  first  fruits  of 
drunkenness,  insanity,  and  crime  under  the  hot-house  sun  of 
the  tropics;  and  when  the  president  of  the  first  Philippine 
commission  says:  "  It  was  unfortunate  that  we  introduced  and 
established  the  saloon  there,  to  corrupt  the  natives  and  to 
exhibit  the  vices  of  our  race,"  we  charge  the  inhumanity  and 
unchristianity  of  this  act  upon  the  administration  of  William 
McKinley  and  upon  the  party  which  elected  and  would  per- 
petuate the  same. 

We  declare  that  the  only  policy  which  the  government  of 
the  United  States  can  of  right  uphold  as  to  the  liquor  traffic, 
under  the  national  Constitution,  upon  any  territory  under 
the  military  or  civil  control  of  that  government,  is  the  policy 
of  prohibition;  that  "to  establish  justice,  insure  domestic 
tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the 
general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  our- 
selves and  our  posterity,"  as  the  Constitution  provides,  the 
liquor  traffic  must  neither  be  sanctioned  nor  tolerated,  and 
that  the  revenue  policy,  which  makes  our  government  a  part- 
ner with  distillers  and  brewers  and  barkeepers,  is  a  disgrace 
to  our  civilization,  an  outrage  upon  humanity,  and  a  crime 
against  God. 

IN   ALASKA  AND   HAWAII. 

We  condemn  the  present  administration  at  Washington  be- 
cause it  has  repealed  the  prohibitory  laws  in  Alaska,  and  has 
given  over  the  partly  civilized  tribes  there  to  be  the  prey  of 
the  American  grog-shop;  and  because  it  has  entered  upon  a 
license  policy  in  our  new  possessions  by  incorporating  the 
same  in  the  recent  act  of  Congress  in  the  code  of  laws  for  the 
government  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands. 

INCREASE   OF   LIQUOR   EXPORTS    TO   CUBA   AND   THE   PHILIPPINES. 

We  call  general  attention  to  the  fearful  fact  that  exporta- 
tion of  liquors  from  the  United  States  to  the  Philippine  Islands 
increased  from  $337  in  1898  to  $467,198  in  the  first  ten  months 
of  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1900;  and  that  while  our 
exportation  of  liquors  to  Cuba  never  reached  $30,000  a  year 
previous  to  American  occupation  of  that  island,  our  exports 
of  such  liquors  to  Cuba  during  the  fiscal  year  of  1899  reached 
the  sum  of  $629,855. 


368       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

CALL  TO  MORAL  AND  CHRISTIAN  CITIZENSHIP. 

One  great  religious  body  (the  Baptist)  having  truly  declared 
of  the  liquor  traffic  "  that  it  has  no  defensible  right  to  exist, 
that  it  can  never  be  reformed,  and  that  it  stands  condemned 
by  its  unrighteous  fruits  as  a  thing  un-Christian,  un-American, 
and  perilous  utterly  to  every  interest  in  life";  another  great 
religious  body  (the  Methodist)  having  as  truly  asserted  and 
reiterated  that  "  no  political  party  has  a  right  to  expect,  nor 
should  receive,  the  votes  of  Christian  men  so  long  as  it  stands 
committed  to  the  license  system,  or  refuses  to  put  itself  on 
record  in  an  attitude  of  open  hostility  to  the  saloon  " ;  other 
great  religious  bodies  having  made  similar  deliverances,  in 
language  plain  and  unequivocal,  as  to  the  liquor  traffic  and 
the  duty  of  Christian  citizenship  in  opposition  thereto;  and 
the  fact  being  plain  and  undeniable  that  the  Democratic  party 
stands  for  license,  the  saloon,  and  the  canteen,  while  the 
Republican  party,  in  policy  and  administration,  stands  for  the 
canteen,  the  saloon  and  revenue  therefrom,  we  declare  our- 
selves justified  in  expecting  that  Christian  voters  everywhere 
shall  cease  their  complicity  with  the  liquor  curse  by  refusing 
to  uphold  a  liquor  party,  and  shall  unite  themselves  with  the 
only  party  which  upholds  the  prohibition  policy,  and  which 
for  nearly  thirty  years  has  been  the  faithful  defender  of  the 
church,  the  state,  the  home,  and  the  school,  against  the  saloon, 
its  expanders  and  perpetuators,  their  actual  and  persistent 
foes. 

THE  PARAMOUNT  ISSUE. 

We  insist  that  no  differences  of  belief  as  to  any  other  ques- 
tion or  concern  of  government  should  stand  in  the  way  of 
such  a  union  of  moral  and  Christian  citizenship  as  we  hereby 
invite,  for  the  speedy  settlement  of  this  paramount  moral, 
industrial,  financial  and  political  issue,  which  our  party  pre- 
sents; and  we  refrain  from  declaring  ourselves  upon  all  minor 
matters,  as  to  which  differences  of  opinion  may  exist,  that 
hereby  we  may  offer  to  the  American  people  a  platform  so 
broad  that  all  can  stand  upon  it  who  desire  to  see  sober  citi- 
zenship actually  sovereign  over  the  allied  hosts  of  evil,  sin, 
and  crime,  in  a  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and 
for  the  people. 

ONLY  TWO  REAL  PARTIES. 

We  declare  that  there  are  but  two  real  parties  to-day  con- 
cerning the  liquor  traffic — perpetuationists  and  prohibitionists 
— and  that  patriotism,  Christianity,  and  every  interest  of 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  369 

genuine  and  of  pure  democracy,  besides  the  loyal  demands 
of  our  common  humanity,  require  the  speedy  union,  in  one 
solid  phalanx  at  the  ballot-box,  of  all  who  oppose  the  liquor 
traffic  perpetuation,  and  who  covet  endurance  for  this  republic. 

The  committee  also  reported  three  resolutions  which 
were  adopted,  though  Dot  as  a  part  of  the  platform :  — 

ADDITIONAL   BESOLUTIONS. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  convention  that  the 
ballot  should  not  be  denied  to  any  citizen  of  the  United  States 
on  account  of  sex. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  organization  of  the  Young  People's 
Prohibition  Leagues,  as  presented  by  the  representatives  of  the 
League  from  the  current  platform,  we  recognize  an  efficient 
agency  for  bringing  about  the  suppression  of  the  liquor  traffic, 
legalized  or  otherwise,  and  aiding  in  the  upbuilding  of  the 
Prohibition  party. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  National  Executive 
Committeee  and  its  chairman,  the  advisability  of  giving  such 
substantial  aid  to  the  organization  of  Young  People's  Prohi- 
bition Leagues  as  may  be  reasonably  practicable. 


Socialist-Labor  National  Executive  Committee: 

Secretary,  HENRY  KUHN,  of  New  York. 


SOCIALIST-LABOR  CONVENTION. 

New  York,  June  2-8,  1900. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  THOMAS  CURRAN, 

of  Rhode  Island. 

Chairman,  DANIEL  DE  LEON, 

of  New  York. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Joseph  Francis  Malloney, 

of  Massachusetts. 

For  Vice-President,  Valentine  Remmel, 

of  Pennsylvania. 


370       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

The  convention  of  this  party  consisted  of  83  delegates, 
representing  nineteen  states,  and  they  nominated  Joseph 
Francis  Malloney,  of  Massachusetts,  for  President,  and 
Valentine  Eemmel,  of  Pennsylvania,  for  Vice-President. 
The  convention  remained  in  session  for  seven  days. 

The  platform  adopted  in  1896,  with  the  exception  of  the 
"  General  Demands,"  was  reaffirmed  (see  pp.  323,  324). 


SOCIAL     DEMOCRATIC    (PARTY    OF    THE     UNITED 
STATES)  CONVENTION. 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  January  27,  1900. 
NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Job  Harriman, 

of  California. 

For  Vice-President,  Max  S.  Hayes, 

of  Ohio. 
The  following  platform  was  adopted: — 

SOCIAL  DEMOCEATIC  PLATFORM. 

The  Social  Democratic  party,  of  the  United  States,  in  con- 
vention assembled,  reaffirms  its  allegiance  to  the  revolutionary 
principles  of  international  socialism  and  declares  the  supreme 
political  issue  in  America  to-day  to  be  the  contest  between  the 
working  class  and  the  capitalist  class  for  the  possession  of  the 
powers  of  government.  The  party  affirms  its  steadfast  purpose 
to  use  those  powers,  once  achieved,  to  destroy  wage  slavery, 
to  abolish  the  institution  of  private  property  in  the  means  of 
production,  and  establish  the  co-operative  commonwealth. 

In  the  United  States,  as  in  all  other  civilized  countries,  the 
natural  order  of  economic  development  has  separated  society 
into  two  antagonistic  classes — the  capitalists,  a  comparatively 
small  class,  the  possessors  of  all  the  modern  means  of  produc- 
tion and  distribution  (land,  mines,  machinery,  and  means  of 
transportation  and  communication),  and  the  large  and  ever- 
increasing  class  of  wage-workers,  possessing  no  means  of 
production. 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  371 

This  economic  supremacy  has  secured  to  the  dominant  class 
the  full  control  of  the  government,  the  pulpit,  the  schools,  and 
the  public  press;  it  has  thus  made  the  capitalist  class  the 
arbiter  of  the  fate  of  the  workers,  whom  it  is  reducing  to  a 
condition  of  dependence,  economically  exploited  and  oppressed, 
intellectually  and  physically  crippled  and  degraded,  and  their 
political  equality  rendered  a  bitter  mockery. 

The  contest  between  these  two  classes  grows  ever  sharper. 
Hand  in  hand  with  the  growth  of  monopolies  goes  the  annihila- 
tion of  small  industries  and  of  the  middle  class  depending  upon 
them;  ever  larger  grows  the  multitude  of  destitute  wage- 
workers  and  of  the  unemployed,  and  ever  fiercer  the  struggle 
between  the  class  of  the  exploiter  and  the  exploited,  the 
capitalists  and  the  wage-workers. 

The  evil  effects  of  capitalist  production  are  intensified  by  the 
recurring  industrial  crises  which  render  the  existence  of  the 
greater  part  of  the  population  still  more  precarious  and  un- 
certain. 

These  facts  amply  prove  that  the  modern  means  of  produc- 
tion have  outgrown  the  existing  social  order  based  on  produc- 
tion for  profit. 

Human  energy  and  natural  resources  are  wasted  for  indi- 
vidual gain. 

Ignorance  is  fostered  that  wage  slavery  may  be  perpetuated. 

Science  and  invention  are  perverted  to  the  exploitation  of 
men,  women  and  children. 

The  lives  and  liberties  of  the  working  class  are  recklessly 
sacrificed  for  profit. 

Wars  are  fomented  between  nations;  indiscriminate  slaughter 
is  encouraged;  the  destruction  of  whole  races  is  sanctioned,  in 
order  that  the  capitalist  class  may  extend  its  commercial 
dominion  abroad  and  enhance  its  supremacy  at  home. 

The  introduction  of  a  new  and  higher  order  of  society  is  the 
historic  mission  of  the  working  class.  All  other  classes,  de- 
spite their  apparent  or  actual  conflicts,  are  interested  in  up- 
holding the  system  of  private  ownership  in  the  means  of 
production.  The  Democratic,  Republican,  and  all  other  parties 
which  do  not  stand  for  the  complete  overthrow  of  the  capitalist 
system  of  production,  are  alike  the  tools  of  the  capitalist  class. 
Their  policies  are  injurious  to  the  interest  of  the  working  class, 
which  can  be  served  only  by  the  abolition  of  the  profit  system. 

The  workers  can  most  effectively  act  as  a  class  in  their 
struggle  against  the  collective  power  of  the  capitalist  class 
only  by  constituting  themselves  into  a  political  party,  distinct 
and  opposed  to  all  parties  formed  by  the  propertied  classes. 


372       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

We,  therefore,  call  upon  the  wage-workers  of  the  United 
States,  without  distinction  of  color,  sex,  race,  or  creed,  and  upon 
all  citizens  in  sympathy  with  the  historic  mission  of  the  work- 
ing class,  to  organize  under  the  banner  of  the  Social  Democratic 
party,  as  a  party  truly  representing  the  interests  of  the  toiling 
masses  and  uncompromisingly  waging  war  upon  the  exploiting 
class,  until  the  system  of  wage  slavery  shall  be  abolished  and 
the  co-operative  commonwealth  shall  be  set  up.  Pending  the 
accomplishment  of  this,  our  ultimate  purpose,  we  pledge  every 
effort  of  the  Social  Democratic  party  for  the  immediate  im- 
provement of  the  condition  of  labor  and  for  the  securing  of  its 
progressive  demands. 


SOCIAL    DEMOCRATIC   (PARTY    OF   AMERICA)  CON- 
VENTION. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  March  6,  1900. 
NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Eugene  V.  Debs, 

of  Indiana. 

For  Vice-President,  Job  Harriman, 

of  California. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted : — 

SOCIAL  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

The  Social  Democratic  party  of  America  declares  that  life, 
liberty,  and  happiness  depend  upon  equal  political  and  economic 
rights. 

In  our  economic  development  an  industrial  revolution  has 
taken  place.  In  former  years  the  tools  of  production  were 
usually  owned  by  the  man  who  worked  with  them  and  who 
thereby  became  the  owner  of  the  product  of  his  labor.  Now, 
the  machine — which  is  but  the  improved  tool — is  not  owned  by 
the  laborer;  it  is  owned  by  the  capitalist,  who  thus  becomes  the 
master  of  the  product,  and  the  worker  is  dependent  upon  him 
for  employment.  The  capitalist  thus  becomes  the  master  of  the 
worker  and  is  able  to  appropriate  to  himself  a  large  share  of 
the  product  of  his  labor. 

Capitalism,  the  private  ownership  of  the  means  of  produc- 
tion, is  responsible  for  the  insecurity  of  subsistence,  the  pov- 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  373 

erty,  misery,  and  degradation  of  the  ever-growing  majority  of 
our'  people;  but  the  same  economic  forces  which  have  produced 
and  now  intensify  the  capitalist  system  will  necessitate  the 
adoption  of  socialism,  the  collective  ownership  of  the  means  of 
production  for  the  common  good  and  welfare. 

The  present  system  of  social  production  and  private  owner- 
ship is  rapidly  converting  society  into  two  antagonistic  classes 
— i.  e.,  the  capitalist  class  and  the  propertyless  class.  The 
middle  class,  once  the  most  powerful  of  this  great  nation,  is 
disappearing  in  the  mill  of  competition.  The  issue  is  now 
between  the  two  classes  first  named.  Our  political  liberty  is 
now  of  little  value  to  the  masses  unless  used  to  acquire 
economic  liberty. 

Independent  political  action  is  the  chief  emancipating  factor 
of  the  working  class.  The  trade-union  movement  and  the 
voluntary  co-operative  movement  are  auxiliary  measures. 

Therefore  the  Social  Democratic  party  of  America  declares 
its  object  to  be: 

1.  The  organization   of  the  working  class   into  a   political 
party  to  conquer  the  public  powers   now   controlled  by  the 
capitalist  class. 

2.  The  aiding  of  the   trade-union   movement   as   the   main 
defensive  measure  calculated  to  improve  the  standard  of  living 
of  the  working  class. 

3.  The    encouragement    of    voluntary    co-operation    wher- 
ever such  will  do  away  with  the  profits  of  the  middle  men  and 
thereby  serve  to  educate  the  people  and  further  improve  their 
condition. 

The  working  class  and  all  those  in  sympathy  with  their 
historic  mission  to  realize  a  higher  civilization  should  sever 
connection  with  all  capitalist  and  reform  parties  and  unite 
with  the  Social  Democratic  party  of  America. 

The  control  of  political  power  by  the  Social  Democratic  party 
will  be  tantamount  to  the  abolition  of  all  class  rule. 

The  solidarity  of  labor  connecting  the  millions  of  class- 
conscious  fellow-workers  throughout  the  civilized  world  will 
lead  to  international  socialism,  the  brotherhood  of  man. 

While  we  believe  that  the  overthrow  of  the  capitalist  system, 
as  a  whole,  is  certain,  because  this  system  is  rapidly  outgrow- 
ing its  usefulness,  we  see  that  the  development  of  economic 
conditions  is  gradual.  We,  therefore,  consider  it  to  be  of 
primary  importance  for  Socialist  parties  to  elect  Socialists  to 
legislative  and  municipal  bodies,  in  order  that  they  may  bring 
about  afl  the  Socialist  reforms  possible  for  the  immediate 


374       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

amelioration  and  improvement  of  the  condition  of  the  people. 
As  steps  in  this  direction,  we  demand  the  following: 

1.  Revision    of   our    federal    constitution,    in    order    to    re- 
move the  obstacles  to  complete  control  of  government  by  the 
people  irrespective  of  sex. 

2.  The    public    ownership    of    all    industries    controlled    by 
monopolies,  trusts,  and  combines. 

3.  The   public   ownership   of  all   railroads,   telegraphs,    and 
telephones;   all  means  of  transportation  and  communication; 
all   water-works,    gas   and   electric   plants,   and   other   public 
utilities. 

4.  The  public  ownership   of   all   gold,   silver,   copper,   lead, 
iron,  coal,  and  other  mines,  and  all  oil  and  gas  wells. 

5.  The   reduction   of  the   hours   of   labor   in   proportion   to 
the  increasing  facilities  of  production. 

6.  The    inauguration    of    a    system    of    public    works    and 
improvements  for  the  employment  of  the  unemployed,  the  pub- 
lic credit  to  be  utilized  for  that  purpose. 

7.  Labor  legislation  to  be  national  and  local. 

8.  State  or  national   insurance   of   working   people   against 
accidents,  lack  of  employment,  and  want  in  old  age. 

9.  Equal   civil   and   political   rights,    for   men   and   women, 
and  the  abolition  of  all  laws  discriminating  against  women. 

10.  The    adoption    of   the    initiative    and    referendum,    pro- 
portional representation,  and  the  right  of  recall  of  representa- 
tives by  the  voters. 

11.  Abolition  of  war  and  the  introduction  of  international 
arbitration. 


Union  Reform  National  Committee  : 

Chairman,  R.  S.  THOMPSON,  of  Ohio, 
Secretary,  A.  G.  EICHELBERGER,  of  Maryland. 


ONION  REFORM  NOMINATIONS. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  September  3,  1900. 

For  President,  Seth  W.  Ellis, 

of  Ohio. 

For  Vice-President,  Samuel  T.  Nicholson, 

of  Pennsylvania. 


ELECTION  OF  1900. 


375 


The  nominations  were  made  by  direct  vote  of  the  people, 
which  was  counted  and  announced  by  the  National  Can- 
vassing Board  at  Baltimore,  Sept.  3, 1900.  The  number  of 
votes  cast  was  1865  and  thirty  states  and  territories  parti- 
cipated. The  following  is  the  vote  in  detail : 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

SETH  W.  ELLIS, 
of  Ohio  

1561 

WHARTON  BARKER, 
of  Pennsylvania  

1 

SAMUEL  T.  NICHOLSON, 

254 

JOHN  G.  WOOLLEY, 
of  Illinois  

1 

WILLIAM  J.  BRYAN, 

15 

IGNATIUS  DONNELLY, 

1 

EUGENE  V  DEBS 

Scattering  

27 

4 

WILLIAM  MCKINLEY, 

Total  

1865 

of  Ohio  

1 

The  one  receiving  the  highest  number  of  votes  is  the 
nominee  for  President  and  the  one  receiving  the  next 
highest  number  is  the  nominee  for  Vice-President.  Any 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  21  years  of  age  or  more, 
approving  the  principles  of  the  party  and  declaring  his 
intention  of  supporting  the  ticket  was  entitled  to  vote. 

This  party  had  its  origin  in  Ohio,  being  a  union  of  the 
minority  parties  which  were  unable  to  secure  places  on  the 
official  ballot  under  legislation  enacted  in  that  state.  In 
the  fall  of  1898  the  new  party  polled  enough  votes  to 
secure  official  recognition,  which  led  to  a  national  confer- 
ence, held  at  Cincinnati,  March  1,  1899.  Some  300  dele- 
gates were  present  from  twelve  states.  A.  G.  Eichelberger, 
of  Maryland,  was  temporary  chairman,  and  E.  S.  Thompson, 
of  Ohio,  permanent  chairman. 

The  following  preamble  and  platform  were  adopted: — 

UNION  REFOKM  PARTY  PLATFOBM. 

PREAMBLE. 

Our  present  system  of  government  vests  the  entire  law- 
making  power  in  representatives.  The  people  elect  these  rep- 
resentatives, but  have  no  control  over  their  actions. 


376       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

An  experience  of  over  a  hundred  years  in  the  practical  opera- 
tion of  this  system  has  proved  that  it  does  not  provide  a 
government  of,  by,  and  for  the  people. 

Representatives  cannot  always  know  certainly  the  will  of 
their  constituents,  and  even  where  that  will  has  been  clearly 
manifested  it  has  been  continually  disregarded. 

Legislative  bodies,  from  municipal  councils  to  the  national 
congress,  have  been  controlled  by  corrupt  influences.  Legisla- 
tion has  consequently  been  in  the  interest  of  the  corrupt  few 
and  against  the  interest  of  the  voiceless  masses. 

Under  this  system  the  people  are  disfranchised  on  all  matters 
of  legislation.  They  are  allowed  to  vote  for  men,  but  are 
denied  the  right  to  vote  for  measures.  The  people  are  gov- 
erned by  laws  which  they  did  not  enact  and  cannot  repeal. 

As  the  result  of  this  system  great  abuses  have  arisen  and 
politics  has  become  a  synonym  for  corruption. 

The  people  have  seen  these  abuses,  but  being  disfranchised 
on  all  legislative  questions  have  been  unable  to  provide  a 
remedy.  They  have  become  divided  into  parties  and  factions 
contending  with  each  other  in  regard  to  the  legislation  needed. 
They  have  overlooked  the  fact  that  under  our  system  of  govern- 
ment they  have  power  neither  to  enact  legislation  which  they 
desire  nor  to  prevent  legislation  to  which  they  are  opposed. 

In  search  for  relief  the  people  have  turned  from  one  party 
to  another,  and  have  organized  new  parties  without  number. 

But  all  such  efforts  have  been  fruitless,  and  must  continue 
so  to  be  as  long  as  the  people  are  disfranchised.  They  must  be 
invested  with  the  power  to  make  their  own  laws  before  they 
can  have  laws  made  in  their  own  interest. 

So  long  as  the  people  have  no  voice  in  legislation  it  is  use- 
less for  them  to  contend  among  themselves  regarding  the 
legislation  which  they  need,  but  cannot  enact. 

That  we  may  have  a  government  conducted  in  the  interests 
of  the  people,  and  which  will  provide  for  the  peace,  prosperity, 
morality,  and  happiness  of  the  entire  nation,  we  must  have  a 
government  which  is  in  fact  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and 
for  the  people,  and  in  which  the  people  shall  rule. 

"We,  therefore,  reserving  to  ourselves  the  right  to  our  in- 
dividual opinions  on  all  questions  of  legislation,  unite  for  the 
accomplishment  of  this  end— the  enfranchisement  of  the  Ameri- 
can people  and  the  establishment  of  a  government  in  which 
the  will  of  the  people  shall  be  supreme.  And  to  this  do  pledge 
our  united  labors. 

And  we  invite  all  persons  who  believe  in  the  principles  oi 


ELECTION  OF  1900.  377 

liberty  and  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to  unite  in  support 
of  the  following 

PLATFORM: 

Direct  legislation  under  the  system  known  as  the  initiative 
and  referendum. 

Under  the  "  initiative  "  the  people  can  compel  the  submission 
to  themselves  of  any  desired  law,  when,  if  it  receives  a 
majority  of  the  votes  cast,  it  is  thereby  enacted. 

Under  the  "  referendum  "  the  people  can  compel  the  submis- 
sion to  themselves  of  any  law  which  has  been  adopted  by  any 
legislative  body,  when,  if  such  law  fails  to  receive  a  majority 
of  the  votes  cast,  it  will  be  thereby  rejected. 

The  election  occurred  on  November  6,  1900. 

FOBTY-FIVE  STATES  VOTED. 


378        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


STATES. 

William 
McKinley, 
Republican. 

William  J. 
Bryan, 
Democrat. 

John  G. 
Woolley, 
Prohibition 
1st. 

53,669 
44,80O 
164,755 
93,072 
102,572 
22,537 
7,314 
35,053 
27,198 
597,985 
336,063 
307,778 
185,955 
226,799 
14,233 
65,435 
136,212 
238,866 
316,269 
190,461 
5,753 
314,092 
25,373 
121,835 
3.849 
54,803 
221,707 
821,992 
133,080 
35,891 
543,918 
46,526 
712,665 
33,784 
3,579 
54,530 
123,394 
120,483 
47,089 
42,568 
115,865 
57,456 
119,780 
265,866 
14,482 

96,368 
81,142 
124,985 
122,733 
74,014 
18,863 
28,007 
81,7OO 
29,414 
503,061 
309,584 
209,266 
162,601 
234,902 
53,671 
36,822 
122,271 
156,997 
211,685 
112,901 
51,706 
351,913 
37,146 
314,013 
6,347 
35,489 
164,808 
678,386 
157,733 
2O,519 
474,882 
33,385 
424,232 
19,812 
47,236 
39,544 
145,744 
267,243 
44,949 
12,849 
146,080 
44,833 
98,791 
159,285 
10,164 

1,407 
584 
5,024 
3,790 
1,617 
546 
2,234 
1,390 
857 
17,626 
13,718 
9,50'2 
3,605 
2,262 

2,585 
4,582 
6,202 
11,859 
8,555 

5,965 
298 
3,655 

1,271 
7,183 
22,043 
1.O06 
731 
10,203 
2,536 
27,908 
1,529 

1,542 
3,914 
2,644 
205 
368 
2,150 
2,363 
1,585 
10,124 

Florida           

Illinois  

New  York  

North  Carolina  

North  Dakota  

Ohio  

Pennsylvania  

South  Carolina  

South  Dakota  

Tennessee  

Texas  

Utah  

Vermont  

Washington  

West  Virginia  

Wisconsin  ..  

Total  

7,207,386 

6,358,076 

207,174 

ELECTION  OP  1900. 


379 


Sugene  V. 
Debs, 
Social 
)emocrat. 

Wharton 
Barker, 
Populist. 

Joseph  F. 
Malloney, 
Socialist- 
Labor. 

Seth  H. 

Ellis, 
Union 
Reform. 

J.  F.  R. 
Leonard, 
United 
Christian. 

Total  vote. 

3,796 

155,240 

972 

.... 

341 

127,839 

7,572 

302,336 

714 

389 

684 

221,382 

1,029 

908 

180,140 

57 

42,003 

601 

1,070 

39,226 

4,584 

122,733 

213 

57,682 

9,687 

1,141 

1,373 

i 

7i 

: 

3 

2 

1,131,897 

2,374 

1,438 

663 

a 

3^ 

I 

664,094 

2,742 

613 

259 

7 

7 

530,867 

1,605 

353,766 

456 

1,662 

408 

466,489 

.... 

67,904 

878 

.... 

.... 

105,720 

908 

•  ... 

391 

: 

4- 

264,511 

9,607 

2,599 

414,271 

2.826 

833 

903 

544,375 

3,O65 

.... 

1,329 

316,311 

1,644 

59,103 

6,128 

4,244 

1,294 

683,636 

708 

110 

111 

63,746 

823 

1,104 

241,430 

10,196 

790 

92,353 

4,6O9 

669 

2,074 

401,050 

12,869 

12,622 

1,547,912 

737 

292,556 

518 

110 

57,769 

4,847 

251 

1,688 

4,2 

8.1 

1,040,073 

1,494 

275 

84,216 

4,831 

638 

2,936 

1,173,210 

1,423 

50.548 

.... 

50,815 

109 

339 

96,124 

415 

1,360 

.... 

274,827 

1,846 

20,961 

162 

413,339 

717 

102 

93,06-2 

367 

56,152 

264,095 

2,006 

866 

107,524 

187 

267 

220,610 

7.O95 

524 

442,894 

.... 

.... 

— 

24,646 

94,173 

49,787 

83,319 

6,698 

1,059 

13,956,672 

380 


ELECTORAL  VOTE. 

Counted  on  February  13,  1901. 


STATES. 

PRESIDENT. 

VICE-PRESIDENT 

Number  entitled  to  vote. 

William  McKinley, 
of  Ohio. 

William  Jennings  Bryan, 
of  Nebraska. 

Theodore  Roosevelt, 
of  New  York. 

Adlai  B.  Stevenson, 
of  Illinois. 

Alabama  

11 
8 

4 

4 
13 
3 

13 

8 

9 
17 
3 

3 
11 

9 

12 
15 

12 

9 

a 

3 

24 
15 
13 
10 

6 
8 
15 
14 
9 

8 

4 
1O 
36 

3 
23 
4 
32 
4 

4 

3 
4 

4 
6 
12 
3 

11 

8 

4 

4 
13 
3 

13 
8 

9 
17 
3 

3 

11 

9 

12 
15 

12 

11 
8 
9 
4 
6 
3 
4 
13 
3 
24 
15 
13 
10 
13 
8 
6 
8 
15 
14 
9 
9 
17 
3 
8 
3 
4 
10 
36 
11 
3 
23 
4 
32 
4 
9 
4 
12 
15 
3 
4 
12 
4 
6 
12 
3 

Arkansas  

California  

9 

Colorado  

6 
3 

Delaware  

Florida  

Georgia  

Idaho  .....  

Illinois  

24 
15 
13 
10 

Indiana  

Iowa  

Kansas  

Kentucky   ,  

Louisiana  

Maine  ,  

6 
8 
15 
14 
9 

Maryland  

Massachusetts    ,  

Minnesota  

Mississippi  

Missouri  

Montana  

Nebraska  

8 

Nevada  .  :  

New  Hampshire  

4 
10 
36 

New  Jersey  

New  York  

North  Carolina.  .      

North  Dakota  

3 
23 
4 
32 
4 

Ohio  

Oregon  

Pennsylvania    

Rhode  Island  

South  Carolina  

South  Dakota  

4 

Tennessee  

Texas  

Utah  

3 
4 

Vermont  

Virginia  

4 
6 
12 
3 

West  Virginia  

Wyoming  

Total.. 

292 

155 

292 

155 

447 

ELECTION  OF  1900.  381 

William  McKinley  was  elected  President  and  Theodore 
Roosevelt  as  Vice-President. 

During  this  period  Congress  was  divided  politically  as 
follows : 

Fifty-seventh  Congress. 

Senate — 27  Democrats,  54  Republicans,  4  Populists,  3 

Silverites,  2  vacancies Total  90 

House — 149  Democrats,  195  Republicans,  6  Populists,  2 

Silverites,  5  vacancies "  357 

Fifty-eighth  Congress. 

Senate — 33  Democrats,  57  Republicans Total     90 

House— 178  Democrats,  208  Republicans "      886 


382        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 


Election  of  1904 


Democratic  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  THOMAS  TAGGART,  of  Indiana. 
Secretary,  UREY  WOODSON,  of  Kentucky. 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  6-9,  1904. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  JOHN  SHARP  WILLIAMS, 

of  Mississippi. 

Chairman,  CHAMP  CLARK, 

of  Missouri. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Alton  B.  Parker, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  Henry  G.  Davis, 

of  West  Virginia. 

This  convention  consisted  of  1006  delegates.  The  per- 
manent organization  was  delayed  by  contesting  cases.  The 
Committee  on  Eesolutions  was  unable  to  report  a  platform 
until  Saturday  morning,  after  an  all-night  session.  On  the 
first  ballot  Alton  B.  Parker,  of  New  York,  was  nominated. 
The  following  is  the  vote : — 


ELECTION  OP  1904. 


383 


CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

CANDIDATES. 

Votes. 

ALTON  B.  PARKER, 
of  New  York  

658 

NELSON  A.  MILES, 

2 

WM.  R.  HEARST, 
of  New  York  

178 

CHARLES  A.  TOWNE, 
of  New  York  

2 

FRANCIS  M.  COCKRELL, 
of  Missouri  

42 

ARTHUR  P.  GORMAN, 
of  Maryland  

2 

RICHARD  OLNEY, 
of  Massachusetts  

38 

ROBERT  E.  PATTISON, 
of  Pennsylvania  

1 

EDWARD  C.  WALL, 

27 

BIRD  8.  COLER, 

1 

JOHN  S.  WILLIAMS, 
of  Mississippi  

g 

Whole  number  of  votes, 

GEORGE  GRAY, 
of  Delaware  

8 

10O6 
Necessary  to  a  choice,     671 

GEOROE  B.  MCCLELLAN, 
of  New  York  

3 

Idaho,  Washington  and  West  Virginia  changed  to 
Parker,  giving  him  more  than  the  necessary  two-thirds. 

After  the  call  the  nomination  was  made  unanimous. 

For  Vice- President,  Henry  G.  Davis,  of  West  Virginia, 
was  nominated  on  the  first  ballot,  which  was,  after  the  call, 
made  unanimous. 

A  contest  in  the  Committee  on  Eesolutions  resulted  in 
eliminating  from  the  platform  all  reference  to  money  or 
monetary  standards,  and  so  it  was  adopted  without  debate 
by  the  convention.  The  nomination  of  Alton  B.  Parker 
followed  immediately,  after  which  the  convention  took  a 
short  recess.  Upon  reassembling  to  nominate  for  Vice- 
President,  it  was  profoundly  agitated  by  the  announcement 
of  the  following  telegram  from  Alton  B.  Parker: 

"  I  regard  the  gold  standard  as  firmly  and  irrevocably  estab- 
lished and  I  shall  act  accordingly  if  the  action  of  the  conven- 
tion to-day  is  ratified  by  the  people.  Inasmuch  as  the  platform 
is  silent  on  the  subject,  I  deem  it  necessary  to  make  this  com- 
munication to  the  convention  for  its  consideration,  as  I  should 
feel  it  my  duty  to  decline  the  nomination  except  with  that 
understanding." 


384       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS 

The  proceedings  which  ensued  were  dramatic;  after 
many  conferences  and  exciting  discussion  the  following 
resolution  was  authorized  by  a  vote  of  798  to  184,  to  be 
sent  in  reply : — 

"  The  platform  adopted  by  this  convention  is  silent  on  the 
question  of  the  monetary  standard  because  it  is  not  regarded 
by  us  as  a  possible  issue  in  this  campaign,  and  only  campaign 
issues  were  mentioned  in  the  platform.  Therefore  there  is 
nothing  in  the  views  expressed  by  you  in  the  telegram  just 
received  which  would  preclude  a  man  entertaining  them  from 
accepting  a  nomination  on  said  platform." 

After  this  action  the  convention  adjourned.  The  plat- 
form adopted  follows : — 

DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

The  Democratic  party  of  the  United  States,  in  national  con- 
vention assembled,  declares  its  devotion  to  the  essential  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  faith  which  bring  us  together  in  party 
communion. 

Under  them  local  self-government  and  national  unity  and 
prosperity  were  alike  established.  They  underlay  our  inde- 
pendence, the  structure  of  our  free  Republic,  and  every  Demo- 
cratic extension  from  Louisiana  to  California,  and  Texas  to 
Oregon,  which  preserved  faithfully  in  all  the  States  the  tie 
between  taxation  and  representation.  They  yet  inspire  the 
masses  of  our  people,  guarding  jealously  their  rights  and 
liberties  and  cherishing  their  fraternity,  peace,  and  orderly 
development.  They  remind  us  of  our  duties  and  responsi- 
bilities as  citizens,  and  impress  upon  us,  particularly  at  this 
time,  the  necessity  of  reform  and  the  rescue  of  the  administra- 
tion of  government  from  the  headstrong,  arbitrary,  and  spas- 
modic methods  which  distract  business  by  uncertainty  and 
pervade  the  public  mind  with  dread,  distrust,  and  perturbation. 

FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES. 

The  application  of  these  fundamental  principles  to  the  living 
issues  of  the  day  is  the  first  step  toward  the  assured  peace, 
safety,  and  progress  of  our  nation.  Freedom  of  the  press, 
of  conscience,  and  of  speech;  equality  before  the  law  of  all 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  385 

citizens;  right  of  trial  by  jury;  freedom  of  the  person  defended 
by  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus;  liberty  of  personal  contract 
untrammeled  by  sumptuary  laws;  supremacy  of  the  civil  over 
military  authority;  a  well-disciplined  militia;  the  separation 
of  church  and  state;  economy  in  expenditures;  low  taxes,  that 
labor  may  be  lightly  burdened;  prompt  and  sacred  fulfillment 
of  public  and  private  obligations;  fidelity  to  treaties;  peace 
and  friendship  with  all  nations,  entangling  alliances  with 
none;  absolute  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  the  majority,  the 
vital  principle  of  republics — these  are  doctrines  which  Democ- 
racy has  established,  as  proverbs  of  the  nation,  and  they  should 
be  constantly  invoked  and  enforced. 

CAPITAL   AND   LABOR. 

We  favor  enactment  and  administration  of  laws  giving  labor 
and  capital  impartially  their  just  rights.  Capital  and  labor 
ought  not  to  be  enemies.  Each  is  necessary  to  the  other.  Each 
has  its  rights,  but  the  rights  of  labor  are  certainly  no  less 
"  vested,"  no  less  "  sacred,"  and  no  less  "  unalienable  "  than 
the  rights  of  capital. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  GUAEANTEES. 

Constitutional  guarantees  are  violated  whenever  any  citizen 
is  denied  the  right  to  labor,  acquire  and  enjoy  property  or 
reside  where  interest  or  inclination  may  determine.  Any 
denial  thereof  by  individuals,  organizations,  or  governments 
should  be  summarily  rebuked  and  punished. 

We  deny  the  right  of  any  executive  to  disregard  or  suspend 
any  constitutional  privilege  or  limitation.  Obedience  to  the 
laws  and  respect  for  their  requirements  are  alike  the  supreme 
duty  of  the  citizen  and  the  official. 

The  military  should  be  used  only  to  support  and  maintain 
the  law.  We  unqualifiedly  condemn  its  employment  for  the 
summary  banishment  of  citizens  without  trial,  or  for  the 
control  of  elections. 

We  approve  the  measure  which  passed  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1896,  but  which  a  Republican  Congress  has  ever 
since  refused  to  enact,  relating  to  contempts  in  Federal  courts 
and  providing  for  trial  by  jury  in  cases  of  indirect  contempt. 

WATERWAYS. 

We  favor  liberal  appropriations  for  the  care  and  improve- 
ment of  the  waterways  of  the  country.  When  any  waterway 


386       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

like  the  Mississippi  River  is  of  sufficient  importance  to  demand 
special  aid  of  the  Government,  such  aid  should  be  extended, 
with  a  definite  plan  of  continuous  work  until  permanent  im- 
provement is  secured. 

We  oppose  the  Republican  policy  of  starving  home  develop- 
ment in  order  to  feed  the  greed  for  conquest  and  the  appetite 
for  national  "  prestige  "  and  display  of  strength. 

ECONOMY  OF  ADMINISTRATION. 

Large  reductions  can  easily  be  made  in  the  annual  expendi- 
tures of  the  Government  without  impairing  the  efficiency  of 
any  branch  of  the  public  service,  and  we  shall  insist  upon  the 
strictest  economy  and  frugality  compatible  with  vigorous  and 
efficient,  civil,  military,  and  naval  administration  as  a  right 
of  the  people  too  clear  to  be  denied  or  withheld. 

We  favor  the  enforcement  of  honesty  in  the  public  service, 
and  to  that  end  a  thorough  legislative  investigation  of  those 
executive  departments  of  the  Government  already  known  to 
teem  with  corruption,  as  well  as  other  departments  suspected 
of  harboring  corruption,  and  the  punishment  of  ascertained 
corruptionists  without  fear  or  favor  or  regard  to  persons.  The 
persistent  and  deliberate  refusal  of  both  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives  to  permit  such  investigation  to  be  made 
demonstrates  that  only  by  a  change  in  the  executive  and  in  the 
legislative  departments  can  complete  exposure,  punishment, 
and  correction  be  obtained. 

CONTEACTS  WITH  TBUSTS. 

We  condemn  the  action  of  the  Republican  party  in  Congress 
in  refusing  to  prohibit  an  executive  department  from  entering 
into  contracts  with  convicted  trusts  or  unlawful  combinations 
in  restraint  of  interstate  trade.  We  believe  that  one  of  the 
best  methods  of  procuring  economy  and  honesty  in  the  public 
Be*,  /ice  is  to  have  public  officials,  from  the  occupant  of  the 
"Vvhite  House  down  to  the  lowest  of  them,  return,  as  nearly  as 
may  be,  to  Jeffersonian  simplicity  of  living. 

EXECUTIVE  USURPATION. 

We  favor  the  nomination  and  election  of  a  President  imbuefl 
with  the  principles  of  the  Constitution,  who  will  set  his  face 
sternly  against  executive  usurpation  of  legislative  and  judicial 
functions,  whether  that  usurpation  be  veiled  under  the  guise 
of  executive  construction  of  existing  laws  or  whether  it  take 
refuge  in  the  tyrant's  pleas  of  necessity  or  superior  wisdom. 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  387 


IMPEEIALISM. 

We  favor  the  preservation,  so  far  as  we  can,  of  an  open 
door  for  the  world's  commerce  in  the  Orient,  without  an 
unnecessary  entanglement  in  Oriental  and  European  affairs, 
and  without  arbitrary,  unlimited,  irresponsible,  and  absolute 
government  anywhere  within  our  jurisdiction. 

We  oppose,  as  fervently  as  did  George  Washington  himself, 
an  indefinite,  irresponsible,  discretionary,  and  vague  absolutism 
and  a  policy  of  colonial  exploitation,  no  matter  where  or  by 
whom  invoked  or  exercised.  We  believe,  with  Thomas  Jefferson 
and  John  Adams,  that  no  government  has  a  right  to  make  one 
set  of  laws  for  those  "  at  home  "  and  another  and  a  different  set 
of  laws,  absolute  in  their  character,  for  those  "  in  the  colonies." 
All  men  under  the  American  flag  are  entitled  to  the  protection 
of  the  institutions  whose  emblem  the  flag  is.  If  they  are 
inherently  unfit  for  those  institutions,  then  they  are  inherently 
unfit  to  be  members  of  the  American  body  politic.  Wherever 
there  may  exist  a  people  incapable  of  being  governed  under 
American  laws,  in  consonance  with  the  American  Constitution, 
the  territory  of  that  people  ought  not  to  be  part  of  the  Amer- 
ican domain. 

FILIPINOS  AND  CUBANS. 

We  insist  that  we  ought  to  do  for  the  Filipinos  what  we 
have  done  already  for  the  Cubans,  and  it  is  our  duty  to  make 
that  promise  now  and  upon  suitable  guarantees  of  protection 
to  citizens  of  our  own  and  other  countries  resident  there  at  the 
time  of  our  withdrawal,  set  the  Filipino  people  upon  their  feet, 
free  and  independent  to  work  out  their  own  destiny. 

The  endeavor  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  by  pledging  the  Gov- 
ernment's indorsement  for  "  promoters "  in  the  Philippine 
Islands,  to  make  the  United  States  a  partner  in  speculative 
legislation  of  the  archipelago,  which  was  only  temporarily 
held  up  by  the  opposition  of  the  Democratic  Senators  in  the 
last  session,  will,  if  successful,  lead  to  entanglements  from 
which  it  will  be  difficult  to  escape. 

TABIFF    LEGISLATION. 

The  Democratic  party  has  been  and  will  continue  to  be  the 
consistent  opponent  of  that  class  of  tariff  legislation  by  which 
certain  interests  have  been  permitted,  through  Congressional 
favor,  to  draw  a  heavy  tribute  from  the  American  people. 
This  monstrous  prevention  of  those  equal  opportunities  which 


388        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

our  political  institutions  were  established  to  secure  has  caused 
what  may  once  have  been  infant  industries  to  become  the 
greatest  combinations  of  capital  that  the  world  has  ever  known. 
These  especial  favorites  of  the  Government  have,  through 
trust  methods,  been  converted  into  monopolies,  thus  bringing 
to  an  end  domestic  competition,  which  was  the  only  alleged 
check  upon  the  extravagant  profits  made  possible  by  the  pro- 
tective system.  These  industrial  combinations,  by  the  finan- 
cial assistance  they  can  give,  now  control  the  policy  of  the 
Republican  party. 

We  denounce  protection  as  a  robbery  of  the  many  to  enrich 
the  few,  and  we  favor  a  tariff  limited  to  the  needs  of  the 
Government  economically  administered,  and  so  levied  as  not  to 
discriminate  against  any  industry,  class,  or  section,  to  the  end 
that  the  burdens  of  taxation  shall  be  distributed  as  equally  as 
possible. 

We  favor  a  revision  and  a  gradual  reduction  of  the  tariff  by 
the  friends  of  the  masses  and  for  the  common  weal,  and  not 
by  the  friends  of  its  abuses,  its  extortions  and  its  discrimina- 
tions, keeping  in  view  the  ultimate  ends  of  "  equality  of  bur- 
dens and  equality  of  opportunities,"  and  the  constitutional 
purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  by  taxation — to  wit,  the  support  of 
the  Federal  Government  in  all  its  integrity  and  virility,  but 
in  simplicity. 

TRUSTS   AND  UNLAWFUL  COMBINES. 

We  recognize  that  the  gigantic  trusts  and  combinations  de- 
signed to  enable  capital  to  secure  more  than  its  just  share  of 
the  joint  products  of  capital  and  labor,  and  which  have  been 
fostered  and  promoted  under  Republican  rule,  are  a  menace 
to  beneficial  competition  and  an  obstacle  to  permanent  business 
prosperity. 

A  private  monopoly  is  indefensible  and  intolerable. 

Individual  equality  of  opportunity  and  free  competition  are 
essential  to  a  healthy  and  permanent  commercial  prosperity, 
and  any  trust,  combination,  or  monopoly  tending  to  destroy 
these  by  controlling  production,  restricting  competition,  or 
fixing  prices  should  be  prohibited  and  punished  by  law.  We 
especially  denounce  rebates  and  discrimination  by  transporta- 
tion companies  as  the  most  potent  agency  in  promoting  and 
strengthening  these  unlawful  conspiracies  against  trade. 


ELECTION  or  1904.  389 

INTERSTATE   COMMEBCE. 

We  demand  an  enlargement  of  the  powers  of  the  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission,  to  the  end  that  the  traveling  public 
and  shippers  of  this  country  may  have  prompt  and  adequate 
relief  for  the  abuses  to  which  they  are  subjected  in  the  matter 
of  transportation.  We  demand  a  strict  enforcement  of  existing 
civil  and  criminal  statutes  against  all  such  trusts,  combina- 
tions, and  monopolies,  and  we  demand  the  enactment  of  such 
further  legislation  as  may  be  necessary  to  effectually  suppress 
them. 

Any  trust  or  unlawful  combination  engaged  in  interstate 
commerce  which  is  monopolizing  any  branch  of  business  or 
production  should  not  be  permitted  to  transact  business  outside 
of  the  State  of  its  origin.  Whenever  it  shall  be  established  in 
any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  that  such  monopolization 
exists,  such  prohibition  should  be  enforced  through  compre- 
hensive laws  to  be  enacted  on  the  subject. 

RECLAMATION  OF  AEID  LANDS. 

We  congratulate  our  western  citizens  upon  the  passage  of  the 
law  known  as  the  Newlands  irrigation  act  for  the  irrigation 
and  reclamation  of  the  arid  lands  of  the  West,  a  measure 
framed  by  a  Democrat,  passed  in  the  Senate  by  a  non-partisan 
vote,  and  passed  in  the  House  against  the  opposition  of  almost 
all  the  Republican  leaders  by  a  vote  the  majority  of  which 
was  Democratic.  We  call  attention  to  this  great  Democratic 
measure,  broad  and  comprehensive  as  it  is,  working  automati- 
cally throughout  all  time,  without  further  action  of  Congress, 
until  the  reclamation  of  all  the  lands  in  the  arid  West  capable 
of  reclamation  is  accomplished,  reserving  the  lands  reclaimed 
for  home-seekers  in  small  tracts  and  rigidly  guarding  against 
land  monopoly,  as  an  evidence  of  the  policy  of  domestic  devel- 
opment contemplated  by  the  Democratic  party  should  it  be 
placed  in  power. 

ISTHMIAN  CANAL. 

The  Democracy,  when  entrusted  with  power,  will  construct 
the  Panama  Canal  speedily,  honestly,  and  economically,  thereby 
giving  to  our  people  what  Democrats  have  always  contended 
for — a  great  interoceanic  canal,  furnishing  shorter  and  cheaper 
lines  of  transportation  and  broader  and  less  trammeled  trade 
relations  with  the  other  peoples  of  the  -world. 


390        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

AMHRICAN   CITIZENSHIP. 

We  pledge  ourselves  to  insist  upon  the  just  and  lawful  pro- 
tection of  our  citizens  at  home  and  abroad,  and  to  use  all 
proper  measures  to  secure  for  them,  whether  native-born  or 
naturalized,  and  without  distinction  of  race  or  creed,  the  equal 
protection  of  laws  and  the  enjoyment  of  all  rights  and  privi- 
leges open  to  them  under  the  covenants  of  our  treaties  of 
friendship  and  commerce;  and  if  under  existing  treaties  the 
right  of  travel  and  sojourn  is  denied  to  American  citizens,  or 
recognition  is  withheld  from  American  passports  by  any  coun- 
tries on  the  ground  of  race  or  creed,  we  favor  the  beginning 
of  negotiations  with  the  governments  of  such  countries  to 
secure  by  treaties  the  removal  of  these  unjust  discriminations. 

We  demand  that  all  over  the  world  a  duly  authenticated  pass- 
port issued  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  an 
American  citizen  shall  be  proof  of  the  fact  that  he  is  an 
American  citizen  and  shall  entitle  him  to  the  treatment  due 
him  as  such. 

ELECTION  OF   SENATORS   BY  THE  PEOPLE. 

We  favor  the  election  of  United  States  Senators  by  the  direct 
vote  of  the  people. 

STATEHOOD  FOE  TERRITORIES. 

We  favor  the  admission  of  the  Territory  of  Oklahoma  and 
the  Indian  Territory.  We  also  favor  the  immediate  admission 
of  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  as  separate  States  and  a  terri- 
torial government  for  Alaska  and  Porto  Rico. 

We  hold  that  the  officials  appointed  to  administer  the  govern- 
ment of  any  Territory,  as  well  as  with  the  District  of  Alaska, 
should  be  bona  fide  residents  at  the  time  of  their  appointment 
of  the  Territory  or  District  in  which  their  duties  are  to  be 
performed. 

CONDEMNATION   OF   POLYGAMY. 

We  demand  the  extermination  of  polygamy  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  United  States  and  the  complete  separation  of 
church  and  state  in  political  affairs. 

MERCHANT  MARINE. 

We  denounce  the  ship-subsidy  bill  recently  passed  by  the 
United  States  Senate  as  an  iniquitous  appropriation  of  public 
funds  for  private  purposes  and  a  wasteful,  illogical  and  useless 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  391 

attempt  to  overcome  by  subsidy  the  obstructions  raised  by 
Republican  legislation  to  the  growth  and  development  of  Amer- 
ican commerce  on  the  sea. 

We  favor  the  upbuilding  of  a  merchant  marine  without  new 
or  additional  burdens  upon  the  people  and  without  bounties 
from  the  public  treasury. 

EECIPBOCITT. 

We  favor  liberal  trade  arrangements  with  Canada  and  with 
peoples  of  other  countries  where  they  can  be  entered  into  with 
benefit  to  American  agriculture,  manufactures,  mining,  or 
commerce. 

MONROE  DOCTRINE. 

We  favor  the  maintenance  of  the  Monroe  Doctrine  is  its  full 
integrity. 

ARMY. 

We  favor  the  reduction  of  the  army  and  of  army  expenditures 
to  the  point  historically  demonstrated  to  be  safe  and  sufficient. 

PENSIONS. 

The  Democracy  would  secure  to  the  surviving  soldiers  and 
sailors  and  their  dependents  generous  pensions,  not  by  an  arbi- 
trary executive  order,  but  by  legislation  which  a  grateful  peo- 
ple stand  ready  to  enact. 

Our  soldiers  and  sailors  who  defend  with  their  lives  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws  have  a  sacred  interest  in  their  just 
administration.  They  must,  therefore,  share  with  us  the  humil- 
iation with  which  we  have  witnessed  the  exaltation  of  court 
favorites  without  distinguished  service,  over  the  scarred  heroes 
of  many  battles;  or  aggrandized  by  executive  appropriations 
out  of  the  treasuries  of  a  prostrate  people,  in  violation  of  the 
act  of  Congress  which  fixed  the  compensation  or  allowances  of 
the  military  officers. 

CIVIL  SERVICE. 

The  Democratic  party  stands  committed  to  the  principles  of 
civil-service  reform,  and  we  demand  their  honest,  just,  and 
impartial  enforcement. 

We  denounce  the  Republican  party  for  its  continuous  and 
sinister  encroachments  upon  the  spirit  and  operation  of  civil- 
service  rules,  whereby  it  has  arbitrarily  dispensed  with  exami- 
nation for  office  in  the  interests  of  favorites  and  employed  all 


392        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

manner  of  devices  to  overreach  and  set  aside  the  principle  upon 
which  the  civil  service  was  established. 

THE  EACE  QUESTION. 

The  race  question  has  brought  countless  woes  to  this  country. 
The  calm  wisdom  of  the  American  people  should  see  to  it  that 
it  brings  no  more. 

To  revive  the  dead  and  hateful  race  and  sectional  animosities 
in  any  part  of  our  common  country  means  confusion,  distrac- 
tion of  business,  and  the  reopening  of  wounds  now  happily 
healed.  North,  South,  East,  and  West  have  but  recently  stood 
together  in  line  of  battle  from  the  walls  of  Pekin  to  the  hills 
of  Santiago,  and  as  sharers  of  a  common  glory  and  a  common 
destiny  we  should  share  fraternally  the  common  burdens. 

We,  therefore,  deprecate  and  condemn  the  Bourbonlike,  sel- 
fish, and  narrow  spirit  of  the  recent  Republican  convention  at 
Chicago,  which  sought  to  kindle  anew  the  embers  of  racial 
and  sectional  strife,  and  we  appeal  from  it  to  the  sober  com- 
mon sense  and  patriotic  spirit  of  the  American  people. 

THE  REPUBLICAN  ADMINISTEATION. 

The  existing  Republican  administration  has  been  spasmodic, 
erratic,  sensational,  spectacular,  and  arbitrary.  It  has  made 
itself  a  satire  upon  the  Congress,  the  courts,  and  upon  the  set- 
tled practices  and  usages  of  national  and  international  law. 

It  summoned  the  Congress  into  hasty  and  futile  extra  session 
and  virtually  adjourned  it,  leaving  behind  its  flight  from 
Washington  uncalled  calendars  and  unaccomplished  tasks. 

It  made  war,  which  is  the  sole  power  of  Congress,  without  its 
authority,  thereby  usurping  one  of  its  fundamental  preroga- 
tives. It  violated  a  plain  statute  of  the  United  States,  as  well 
as  plain  treaty  obligations,  international  usages  and  constitu- 
tional law;  and  has  done  so  under  pretense  of  executing  a  great 
public  policy,  which  could  have  been  more  easily  effected  law- 
fully, constitutionally,  and  with  honor. 

It  forced  strained  and  unnatural  constructions  upon  statutes, 
usurping  judicial  interpretation  and  substituting  congressional 
enactment  decree. 

It  withdrew  from  Congress  their  customary  duties  of  inves- 
tigation which  have  heretofore  made  the  representatives  of  the 
people  and  the  states  the  terrors  of  evil-doers. 

It  conducted  a  secretive  investigation  of  its  own  and  boasted 
of  a  few  sample  convicts,  while  it  threw  a  broad  coverlet  over 
the  bureaus  which  had  been  their  chosen  field  of  operative 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  393 

abuses,  and  kept  in  power  the  superior  officers  under  whose 
administration  the  crimes  had  been  committed. 

It  ordered  assault  upon  some  monopolies,  but,  paralyzed  by 
its  first  victory,  it  flung  out  the  flag  of  truce  and  cried  out  that 
it  would  not  "  run  amuck,"  leaving  its  future  purposes  be- 
clouded by  its  vacillations. 

APPEAL   TO   THE   PEOPLE. 

Conducting  the  campaign  upon  this  declaration  of  our  prin- 
ciples and  purposes,  we  invoke  for  our  candidates  the  support, 
not  only  of  our  great  and  time-honored  organization,  but  also 
the  active  assistance  of  all  or  our  fellow-citizens  who,  dis- 
regarding past  differences  upon  questions  no  longer  an  issue, 
desire  the  perpetuation  of  our  constitutional  Government  as 
framed  and  established  by  the  fathers  of  the  Republic. 


Republican  National  Committee: 

Chairman,  GEORGE  B.  CORTELYOU,  of  New  York. 
Secretary,  ELMER  DOVER,  of  Ohio. 

REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  June  21-23,  1904. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  ELIHU  ROOT, 

of  New  York. 

Chairman,  JOSEPH  G.  CANNON, 

of  Illinois. 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Theodore  Roosevelt, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-president,  Charles  W.  Fairbanks, 

of  Indiana. 

This  convention  was  composed  of  #94  delegates.  Theo- 
dore Roosevelt,  of  New  York,  was  unanimously  nominated 
for  President  on  a  roll  call  of  states. 


394       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

For  Vice-President,  Charles  W.  Fairbanks,  of  Indiana, 
was  unanimously  nominated  by  acclamation.  Only  one 
name  was  presented  for  each  office. 

The  platform  adopted  by  the  convention  follows : — 

REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM. 

Fifty  years  ago  the  Republican  party  came  into  existence 
dedicated,  among  other  purposes,  to  the  great  task  of  arresting 
the  extension  of  human  slavery.  In  1860  it  elected  its  first 
President.  During  twenty-four  of  the  forty-four  years  which 
have  elapsed  since  the  election  of  Lincoln  the  Republican  party 
has  held  complete  control  of  the  Government.  For  eighteen 
more  of  the  forty-four  years  it  has  held  partial  control  through 
the  possession  of  one  or  two  branches  of  the  Government, 
while  the  Democratic  party  during  the  same  period  has  had 
complete  control  for  only  two  years. 

This  long  tenure  of  power  by  the  Republican  party  is  not 
due  to  chance.  It  is  a  demonstration  that  the  Republican  party 
has  commanded  the  confidence  of  the  American  people  for 
nearly  two  generations  to  a  degree  never  equalled  in  history, 
and  has  displayed  a  high  capacity  for  rule  and  government 
which  has  been  made  even  more  conspicuous  by  the  incapa- 
city and  infirmity  of  purpose  shown  by  its  opponents. 

BEPUBUCAN  ACHIEVEMENTS   SINCE   1897. 

The  Republican  party  entered  upon  its  present  period  of  com- 
plete supremacy  in  1897.  We  have  every  right  to  congratulate 
ourselves  upon  the  work  since  then  accomplished,  for  it  has 
added  lustre  even  to  the  traditions  of  the  party  which  carried 
the  government  through  the  storms  of  civil  war. 

We  then  found  the  country,  after  four  years  of  Democratic 
rule,  in  evil  plight,  oppressed  with  misfortune  and  doubtful 
of  the  future.  Public  credit  had  been  lowered,  the  revenues 
were  declining,  the  debt  was  growing,  the  administration's 
attitude  toward  Spain  was  feeble  and  mortifying,  the  standard 
of  values  was  threatened  and  uncertain,  labor  was  unemployed, 
business  was  sunk  in  the  depression  which  had  succeeded  the 
panic  of  1893,  hope  was  faint,  and  confidence  was  gone. 

We  met  these  unhappy  conditions  vigorously,  effectively,  and 
at  once. 

We  replaced  a  Democratic  tariff  law  based  on  free  trade 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  395 

principles  and  garnished  with  sectional  protection  by  a  consist- 
ent protective  tariff,  and  industry,  freed  from  oppression  and 
stimulated  by  the  encouragement  of  wise  laws,  has  expanded 
to  a  degree  never  before  known,  has  conquered  new  markets, 
and  has  created  a  volume  of  exports  which  has  surpassed 
imagination.  Under  the  Dingley  tariff  labor  has  been  fully 
employed,  wages  have  risen,  and  all  industries  have  revived 
and  prospered. 

We  firmly  established  the  gold  standard,  which  was  then 
menaced  with  destruction.  Confidence  returned  to  business  and 
with  confidence  an  unexampled  prosperity. 

For  deficient  revenues  supplemented  by  improvident  issues 
of  bonds  we  gave  the  country  an  income  which  produced  a 
large  surplus  and  which  enabled  us  only  four  years  after  the 
Spanish  war  had  closed  to  remove  over  one  hundred  millions 
of  annual  war  taxes,  reduce  the  .public  debt,  and  lower  the 
interest  charges  of  the  Government. 

The  public  credit,  which  had  been  so  lowered  that  in  time 
of  peace  a  Democratic  administration  made  large  loans  at 
extravagant  rates  of  interest  in  order  to  pay  current  expendi- 
tures, rose  under  Republican  administration  to  its  highest 
point  and  enabled  us  to  borrow  at  2  per  cent  even  in  time  of 
war. 

We  refused  to  palter  longer  with  the  miseries  of  Cuba.  We 
fought  a  quick  and  victorious  war  with  Spain.  We  set  Cuba 
free,  governed  the  island  for  three  years,  and  then  gave  it  to 
the  Cuban  people  with  order  restored,  with  ample  revenues, 
with  education  and  public  health  established,  free  from  debt 
and  connected  with  the  United  States  by  wise  provisions  for 
our  mutual  interests. 

We  have  organized  the  government  of  Porto  Rico,  and  its 
people  now  enjoy  peace,  freedom,  order,  and  prosperity. 

In  the  Philippines  we  have  suppressed  insurrection,  estab- 
lished order,  and  given  to  life  and  property  a  security  never 
known  there  before.  We  have  organized  civil  government, 
made  it  effective  and  strong  in  administration,  and  have 
conferred  upon  the  people  of  those  islands  the  largest  civil 
liberty  they  have  ever  enjoyed. 

By  our  possession  of  the  Philippines  we  were  enabled  to  take 
prompt  and  effective  action  in  the  relief  of  the  legations  at 
Pekin  and  a  decisive  part  In  preventing  the  partition  and  pre- 
serving the  integrity  of  China. 

The  possession  of  a  route  for  an  isthmian  canal,  so  long  the 


396        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

dream  of  American  statesmanship,  is  now  an  accomplished  fact. 
The  great  work  of  connecting  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic  by  a 
canal  is  at  last  begun,  and  it  is  due  to  the  Republican  party. 

We  have  passed  laws  which  will  bring  the  arid  lands  of  the 
United  States  within  the  area  of  cultivation. 

We  have  reorganized  the  army  and  put  it  in  the  highest  state 
of  efficiency. 

We  have  passed  laws  for  the  improvement  and  support  of  the 
militia. 

We  have  pushed  forward  the  building  of  the  navy,  the  de- 
fense and  protection  of  our  honor  and  our  interests. 

Our  administration  of  the  great  departments  of  the  Govern- 
ment has  been  honest  and  efficient,  and  wherever  wrongdoing 
has  been  discovered  the  Republican  administration  has  not 
hesitated  to  probe  the  evil  and  bring  offenders  to  justice  with- 
out regard  to  party  or  political  ties. 

Laws  enacted  by  the  Republican  party  which  the  Democratic 
party  failed  to  enforce  and  which  were  intended  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  public  against  the  unjust  discrimination  or  the 
illegal  encroachment  of  vast  aggregations  of  capital,  have  been 
fearlessly  enforced  by  a  Republican  President,  and  new  laws, 
insuring  reasonable  publicity  as  to  the  operations  of  great 
corporations,  and  providing  additional  remedies  for  the  pre- 
vention of  discrimination  in  freight  rates,  have  been  passed 
by  a  Republican  Congress. 

In  this  record  of  achievement  during  the  past  eight  years 
may  be  read  the  pledges  which  the  Republican  party  has  ful- 
filled. We  promise  to  continue  these  policies,  and  we  declare 
our  constant  adherence  to  the  following  principles:  — 

THE  PROTECTIVE   TAEIFF. 

Protection  which  guards  and  develops  our  industries  is  a 
cardinal  policy  of  the  Republican  party.  The  measure  of  pro- 
tection should  always  at  least  equal  the  difference  in  the  cost 
of  production  at  home  and  abroad. 

We  insist  upon  the  maintenance  of  the  principles  of  protec- 
tion, and  therefore  rates  of  duty  should  be  readjusted  only 
when  conditions  have  so  changed  that  the  public  interest  de- 
mands their  alteration,  but  this  work  cannot  safely  be  com- 
mitted to  any  other  hands  than  those  of  the  Republican  party. 
To  intrust  it  to  the  Democratic  party  is  to  invite  disaster. 
Whether,  as  in  1892,  the  Democratic  party  declares  the  pro- 
tective tariff  unconstitutional,  or  whether  it  demands  tariff  re- 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  397 

form  or  tariff  revision,  its  real  object  is  always  the  destruction 
of  the  protective  system. 

However  specious  the  name,  the  purpose  is  ever  the  same. 
A  Democratic  tariff  has  always  been  followed  by  business 
adversity;  a  Republican  tariff  by  business  prosperity. 

To  a  Republican  Congress  and  a  Republican  President  this 
great  question  can  be  safely  intrusted.  When  the  only  free 
trade  country  among  the  great  nations  agitates  a  return  to 
protection,  the  chief  protective  country  should  not  falter  in 
maintaining  it. 

We  have  extended  widely  our  foreign  markets,  and  we  be- 
lieve in  the  adoption  of  all  practicable  methods  for  their  fur- 
ther extension,  including  commercial  reciprocity  wherever  re- 
ciprocal arrangements  can  be  effected  consistent  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  protection  and  without  injury  to  American  agricul- 
ture, American  labor,  or  any  American  industry. 

THE  GOLD   STANDARD  MUST  BE  UPHELD. 

We  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  Republican  party  to 
uphold  the  gold  standard  and  the  integrity  and  value  of  our 
national  currency.  The  maintenance  of  the  gold  standard, 
established  by  the  Republican  party,  cannot  safety  be  com- 
mitted to  the  Democratic  party,  which  resisted  its  adoption, 
and  has  never  given  any  proof  since  that  time  of  belief  in  it 
or  fidelity  to  it. 

ENCOUBAGE  THE  MEBCHANT  MABINE. 

While  every  other  industry  has  prospered  under  the  foster- 
ing aid  of  Republican  legislation,  American  shipping  engaged 
in  foreign  trade  in  competition  with  the  low  cost  of  construc- 
tion, low  wages,  and  heavy  subsidies  of  foreign  governments 
has  not  for  many  years  received  from  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  adequate  encouragement  of  any  kind.  We  there- 
fore favor  legislation  which  will  encourage  and  build  up  the 
American  merchant  marine,  and  we  cordially  approve  the 
legislation  of  the  last  Congress  which  created  the  Merchant 
Marine  Commission  to  investigate  and  report  upon  this  subject. 

MAINTAIN   THE   NAVT. 

A  navy  powerful  enough  to  defend  the  United  States  against 
any  attack,  to  uphold  the  Monroe  Doctrine,  and  watch  over  our 
commerce  is  essential  to  the  safety  and  the  welfare  of  tho 
American  people.  To  maintain  such  a  navy  is  the  fixed  policy 
of  the  Republican  party. 


398        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

EXCLUDE  CHINESE  LABOR. 

We  cordially  approve  the  attitude  of  President  Roosevelt  and 
Congress  in  regard  to  the  exclusion  of  Chinese  labor,  and  prom- 
ise a  continuance  of  the  Republican  policy  in  that  direction. 

ENFORCE  THE  CIVIL  SERVICE  LAW. 

The  civil  service  law  was  placed  on  the  statute  books  by  the 
Republican  party,  which  has  always  sustained  it,  and  we  renew 
our  former  declarations  that  it  shall  be  thoroughly  and  hon- 
estly enforced. 

ADMINISTER   PENSION   LAWS   LIBERALLY. 

We  are  always  mindful  of  the  country's  debt  to  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  the  United  States,  and  we  believe  in  making 
ample  provision  for  them  and  in  the  liberal  administration  of 
the  pension  laws. 

ARBITRATION. 

We  favor  such  Congressional  action  as  shall  determine 
by  arbitration. 

PROTECT  AMERICAN   CITIZENS  ABROAD. 

We  commend  the  vigorous  efforts  made  by  the  administration 
to  protect  American  citizens  in  foreign  lands,  and  pledge  our- 
selves to  insist  upon  the  just  and  equal  protection  of  all  our 
citizens  abroad.  It  is  the  unquestioned  duty  of  the  Govern- 
ment to  procure  for  all  our  citizens,  without  distinction,  the 
rights  of  travel  and  sojourn  in  friendly  countries,  and  we  de- 
clare ourselves  in  favor  of  all  proper  efforts  tending  to  that 
end. 

OUR  POLICY   REGARDING   CHINA. 

Our  great  interests  and  our  growing  commerce  in  the  Orient 
render  the  condition  of  China  of  high  importance  to  the  United 
States.  We  cordially  commend  the  policy  pursued  in  that  direc- 
tion by  the  administrations  of  President  McKinley  and  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt. 

ENFORCE  THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  PROVISIONS  REGARDING  ELECTIVE 
FRANCHISE. 

We  favor  such  Congressional  action  as  shall  determine 
whether  by  special  discriminations  the  elective  franchise  in 
any  state  has  been  unconstitutionally  limited,  and,  if  such  is 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  399 

the  case,  we  demand  that  representation  In  Congress  and  in 
the  electoral  colleges  shall  be  proportionately  reduced  as  di- 
rected by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

COMBINATIONS  OF  LABOE  AND  CAPITAL. 

Combinations  of  capital  and  of  labor  are  the  results  of  the 
economic  movement  of  the  age,  but  neither  must  be  permitted 
to  infringe  upon  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  people.  Such 
combinations  when  lawfully  formed  for  lawful  purposes  are 
alike  entitled  to  the  protection  of  the  laws,  but  both  are  subject 
to  the  laws,  and  neither  can  be  permitted  to  break  them. 

M'KINLET  AND  ROOSEVELT. 

The  great  statesman  and  patriotic  American,  William  Mc- 
Kinley,  who  was  re-elected  by  the  Republican  party  to  the 
Presidency  four  years  ago,  was  assassinated  just  at  the  thresh- 
old of  his  second  term.  The  entire  nation  mourned  his  un- 
timely death,  and  did  that  justice  to  his  great  qualities  of 
mind  and  character  which  history  will  confirm  and  repeat. 

The  American  people  were  fortunate  in  his  successor,  to 
whom  they  turned  with  a  trust  and  confidence  which  have 
been  fully  justified.  President  Roosevelt  brought  to  the  great 
responsibilities  thus  sadly  forced  upon  him  a  clear  head,  a 
brave  heart,  and  earnest  patriotism,  and  high  ideals  of  public 
duty  and  public  service.  True  to  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  to  the  policies  which  that  party  had  declared, 
he  has  also  shown  himself  ready  for  every  emergency,  and 
has  met  new  and  vital  questions  with  ability  and  with  success. 

SETTLEMENT   OF   THE   COAL   STBIKE. 

The  confidence  of  the  people  in  his  justice,  inspired  by  hia 
public  career,  enabled  him  to  render  personally  an  inestimable 
service  to  the  country  by  bringing  about  a  settlement  of  the 
coal  strike  which  threatened  such  disastrous  results  at  the 
opening  of  the  winter  in  1902. 

ROOSEVELT'S  FOREIGN  POLICY. 

Our  foreign  policy  under  his  administration  has  not  only 
been  able,  vigorous,  and  dignified,  but  to  the  highest  degree 
successful.  The  complicated  questions  which  arose  in  Vene- 
zuela were  settled  in  such  a  way  by  President  Roosevelt  that 
the  Monroe  Doctrine  was  signally  vindicated  and  the  cause  of 
peace  and  arbitration  greatly  advanced. 


400        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

PANAMA. 

His  prompt  and  vigorous  action  in  Panama,  which  we  com- 
mend in  the  highest  terms,  not  only  secured  to  us  the  canal 
route,  but  avoided  all  foreign  complications  which  might  have 
been  of  a  very  serious  character. 

IN  THE  OEIENT. 

He  has  continued  the  policy  of  President  McKinley  in  the 
Orient,  and  our  position  in  China,  signalized  by  our  recent  com- 
mercial treaty  with  that  empire,  has  never  been  so  high. 

THE  ALASKAN  BOUNDAKY. 

He  secured  the  tribunal  by  which  the  vexed  and  perilous 
question  of  the  Alaskan  boundary  was  finally  settled. 

Whenever  crimes  against  humanity  have  been  perpetrated 
which  have  shocked  our  people,  his  protest  has  been  made 
and  our  good  offices  have  been  tendered,  but  always  with  due 
regard  to  international  obligations. 

Under  his  guidance  we  find  ourselves  at  peace  with  all  the 
world,  and  never  were  we  more  respected  or  our  wishes  more 
regarded  by  foreign  nations. 

DOMESTIC  QUESTIONS. 

Pre-eminently  successful  in  regard  to  our  foreign  relations, 
he  has  been  equally  fortunate  in  dealing  with  domestic  ques- 
tions. The  country  has  known  that  the  public  credit  and  the 
national  currency  were  absolutely  safe  in  the  hands  of  his 
administration.  In  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  he  has  shown 
not  only  courage  but  the  wisdom  which  understands  that  to 
permit  laws  to  be  violated  or  disregarded  opens  the  door  to 
anarchy,  while  the  just  enforcement  of  the  law  is  the  soundest 
conservatism.  He  has  held  firmly  to  the  fundamental  Amer- 
ican doctrine  that  all  men  must  obey  the  law,  that  there  must 
be  no  distinction  between  rich  and  poor,  between  strong  and 
weak,  but  that  justice  and  equal  protection  under  the  law  must 
be  secured  to  every  citizen  without  regard  to  race,  creed,  or 
condition. 

His  administration  has  been  throughout  vigorous  and  honor- 
able, high-minded  and  patriotic.  We  commend  it  without  reser- 
vation to  the  considerate  judgment  of  the  American  people. 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  40! 

People's  Party  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  J.  H.  FERRIS,  of  Illinois. 
Secretary,  C.  Q.  DE  FRANCE,  of  Nebraska. 


PEOPLE'S  PARTY  CONVENTION. 

Springfield,  111.,  July  4-6,  1904. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  L.  H.  WELLER, 

of  Iowa. 

Chairman,  J.  H.  MALLETTE, 

of  Texas. 

NOMINATED— 

For  President,  Thomas  E.  Watson, 

of  Georgia. 

For  Vice-President,  Thomas  H.  Tibbies, 

of  Nebraska. 

The  roll  of  the  convention  was  made  up  of  92  If  delegates ; 
698  votes  were  recorded  on  the  vote  for  President — 334  for 
Thos.  E.  Watson,  319  for  Wm.  V.  Allen,  and  45  for  Samuel 
\V.  Williams.  The  name  of  Wm.  V.  Allen  was  then  with- 
drawn and  Thomas  E.  Watson  was  unanimously  chosen  by 
acclamation.  Both  nominations  were  made  on  the  first 
ballot. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted: — 

PEOPLE'S  PARTY  PLATFORM. 

The  People's  party  reaffirms  Its  adherence  to  the  basic  truths 
of  the  Omaha  platform  of  1892,  and  of  the  subsequent  plat- 
forms of  1896  and  1900.  In  session  in  its  fourth  national  con- 
vention, on  July  4,  1904,  in  the  city  of  Springfield,  111.,  it 
draws  inspiration  from  the  day  that  saw  the  birth  of  the 
nation  as  well  as  its  own  birth  as  a  party,  and  also  from  the 


4:02       NATIONAL  CONTENTIONS  AND  PLATFOKMS. 

soul  of  him  who  lived  at  its  present  place  of  meeting.  We 
renew  our  allegiance  to  the  old-fashioned  American  spirit  that 
gave  this  nation  existence,  and  made  it  distinctive  among  the 
peoples  of  the  earth.  We  again  sound  the  key-note  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  that  all  men  are  created  equal  in 
a  political  sense,  which  was  the  sense  in  which  that  instrument, 
being  a  political  document,  intended  that  the  utterance  should 
be  understood.  We  assert  that  the  departure  from  this  funda- 
mental truth  is  responsible  for  the  ills  from  which  we  suffer 
as  a  nation,  that  the  giving  of  special  privileges  to  the  few 
has  enabled  them  to  dominate  the  many,  thereby  tending  to 
destroy  the  political  equality  which  is  the  corner-stone  of 
democratic  government. 

DEPLORE  MILITARY  RULE. 

We  call  for  a  return  to  the  truths  of  the  fathers,  and  we 
vigorously  protest  against  the  spirit  of  Mammonism  and  of 
thinly  veiled  monarchy  that  is  invading  certain  sections  of  our 
national  life,  and  of  the  very  administration  itself.  This  is  a 
nation  of  peace,  and  we  deplore  the  appeal  to  the  spirit  of  force 
and  militarism  which  is  shown  in  ill-advised  and  vainglorious 
boasting  and  in  more  harmful  ways  in  the  denial  of  the  rights 
of  man  under  martial  law. 

TRANSPORTATION  MONOPOLY. 

A  political  democracy  and  an  industrial  despotism  cannot 
exist  side  by  side;  and  nowhere  is  this  truth  more  plainly 
shown  than  in  the  gigantic  transportation  monopolies  which 
have  bred  all  sorts  of  kindred  trusts,  subverted  the  govern- 
ments of  many  of  the  states,  and  established  their  official 
agents  in  the  National  Government.  We  submit  that  it  is 
better  for  the  Government  to  own  the  railroads  than  for  the 
railroads  to  own  the  Government,  and  that  one  or  the  other 
alternative  seems  inevitable. 

We  call  the  attention  of  our  fellow-citizens  to  the  fact  that 
the  surrender  of  both  of  the  old  parties  to  corporative  influ- 
ences leaves  the  People's  party  the  only  party  of  reform  in  the 
nation. 

MONEY  AND  BANKS. 

Therefore  we  submit  the  following  platform  of  principles  to 
the  American  people:  — 

The  issuing  of  money  is  a  function  of  government,  and 
should  never  be  delegated  to  corporations  or  individuals. 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  403 

The  Constitution  gives  to  Congress  alone  power  to  issue  money 
and  regulate  its  value. 

We  therefore  demand  that  all  money  shall  be  issued  by  the 
Government  in  such  quantity  as  shall  maintain  a  stability  in 
prices,  every  dollar  to  be  full  legal  tender,  none  of  which  shall 
be  a  debt  redeemable  in  other  money. 

We  demand  that  postal  savings  banks  be  established  by  the 
Government  for  the  safe  deposit  of  the  savings  of  the  people. 

I.AIiOU  ORGANIZATION. 

We  believe  in  the  right  of  labor  to  organize  for  the  benefit 
and  protection  of  those  who  toil;  and  pledge  the  efforts  of  the 
People's  party  to  preserve  this  right  inviolate.  Capital  is 
organized  and  has  no  right  to  deny  to  labor  the  privilege  which 
it  claims  for  itself.  We  feel  that  intelligent  organization  of 
labor  is  essential;  that  it  raises  the  standard  of  workmanship; 
promotes  the  efficiency,  intelligence,  independence,  and  charac- 
ter of  the  wage-earner.  We  believe  with  Abraham  Lincoln 
that  labor  is  prior  to  capital,  and  is  not  its  slave,  but  its 
companion,  and  we  plead  for  that  broad  spirit  of  toleration  and 
justice  which  will  promote  industrial  peace  through  the  ob- 
servance of  the  principles  of  voluntary  arbitration. 

CHILD   LABOR   QUESTION. 

We  favor  the  enactment  of  legislation  looking  to  the  improve- 
ment of  conditions  for  wage-earners,  the  abolition  of  child 
labor,  the  suppression  of  sweat-shops,  and  of  convict  labor  in 
competition  with  free  labor,  and  the  exclusion  from  American 
shores  of  foreign  pauper  labor. 

We  favor  the  shorter  work-day,  and  declare  that  if  eight 
hours  constitutes  a  day's  labor  in  Government  service,  that 
eight  hours  should  constitute  a  day's  labor  in  factories,  work- 
shops, and  mines. 

INITIATIVE    AND    REFERENDUM. 

As  a  means  of  placing  all  public  questions  directly  under  the 
control  of  the  people,  we  demand  that  legal  provision  be  made 
under  which  the  people  may  exercise  the  initiative,  refer- 
endum, and  proportional  representation  and  direct  vote  for 
all  public  officers  with  the  right  of  recall. 

Land,  including  all  the  natural  sources  of  wealth,  Is  a  heri- 
tage of  all  the  people,  and  should  not  be  monopolized  for  specu- 
lative purposes,  and  alien  ownership  of  land  should  be  pro- 
hibited. 


404       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

We  demand  a  return  to  the  original  interpretation  of  the 
Constitution  and  a  fair  and  impartial  enforcement  of  laws 
under  it,  and  denounce  government  by  injunction  and  imprison- 
ment without  the  right  of  trial  by  jury. 

DEMAND  GOVERNMENT  OWNERSHIP. 

To  prevent  unjust  discrimination  and  monopoly  the  Govern- 
ment should  own  and  control  the  railroads,  and  those  public 
utilities  which  in  their  nature  are  monopolies.  To  perfect 
the  postal  service,  the  Government  should  own  and  operate 
the  general  telegraph  and  telephone  systems,  and  provide  a 
parcels  post. 

As  to  those  trusts  and  monopolies  which  are  not  public  utili- 
ties or  natural  monopolies,  we  demand  that  those  special  privi- 
leges which  they  now  enjoy,  and  which  alone  enable  them  to 
exist,  should  be  immediately  withdrawn.  Corporations  being 
the  creatures  of  government,  should  be  subjected  to  such  gov- 
ernmental regulations  and  control  as  will  adequately  protect 
the  public.  We  demand  the  taxation  of  monopoly  privileges, 
while  they  remain  in  private  hands,  to  the  extent  of  the  value 
of  the  privileges  granted. 

EEGULATE  INTERSTATE   COMMERCE. 

We  demand  that  Congress  shall  enact  a  general  law  uni- 
formly regulating  the  power  and  duties  of  all  incorporated 
companies  doing  interstate  business. 


Prohibition  National  Committee : 

Chairman,  OLIVER  W.  STEWART,  of  Illinois. 
Secretary,  JAMES  A.  TATE,  of  Tennessee. 


PROHIBITION  CONVENTION. 

Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June  29-July  1,  1904. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  HOMER  L.  CASTLE, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

Chairman,  A.  G.  WOLFENBARGER, 

of  Nebraska. 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  405 

NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Silas  C.  Swallow, 

of  Pennsylvania. 

For  Vice-President,  George  W.  Carroll, 

of  Texas. 

The  number  of  delegates  present  at  this  convention  was 
758 ;  39  states  and  two  territories  were  represented. 

Silas  C.  Swallow  for  President  and  George  W.  Carroll 
for  Vice-President  were  each  nominated  on  the  first  ballot. 

The  Convention  adopted  the  following  platform : — 

PROHIBITION  PLATFORM. 

The  Prohibition  party,  in  national  convention  assembled,  at 
Indianapolis,  June  30,  1904,  recognizing  that  the  chief  end 
of  all  government  is  the  establishment  of  those  principles  of 
righteousness  and  justice  that  have  been  revealed  to  men  as 
the  will  of  the  Ever-Living  God,  desiring  His  blessing  upon 
our  national  life,  and  believing  in  the  perpetuation  of  the  high 
ideals  of  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and  for  the 
people,  established  by  our  fathers,  makes  the  following  decla- 
ration of  principles  and  purposes:  — 

1.  The  widely  prevailing  system  of  the  licensed  and  legalized 
sale  of  alcoholic  beverages  is  so  ruinous  to  individual  interests, 
so  inimical  to  public  welfare,  so  destructive  to  national  wealth, 
and  so  subversive  of  the  rights  of  great  masses  of  our  citizen- 
ship, that  the  destruction  of  the  traffic  is,  and  for  years  has 
been,  the  most  important  question  in  American  politics. 

2.  We  denounce  the  lack  of  statesmanship  exhibited  by  the 
leaders   of  the   Democratic   and   Republican   parties   in   their 
refusal  to  recognize  the  paramount  importance  of  this  question 
and  the  cowardice  with  which  the  leaders  of  these  parties 
have  courted  the  favor  of  those  whose  selfish   interests  are 
advanced  by  the  continuation  and  augmentation  of  the  traffic, 
untii  to-day  the  influence  of  the  liquor  traffic  practically  domi- 
nates national,  state,  and  local  government  throughout  the 
nation. 

3.  We  declare  the  truth,  demonstrated  by  the  experience  of 
half  a  century,  that  all  methods  of  dealing  with  the  liquor 


406        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

traffic  which  recognize  its  right  to  exist,  in  any  form,  under 
any  system  of  license  or  tax  or  regulation,  have  proved  power- 
less to  remove  its  evils,  and  useless  as  checks  upon  its  growth, 
while  the  insignificant  public  revenues  which  have  accrued 
therefrom  have  seared  the  public  conscience  against  a  recogni- 
tion of  its  iniquity. 

4.  We  call  public  attention  to  the  fact,  proved  by  the  experi- 
ence of  more  than  fifty  years,  that  to  secure  the  enactment 
and   enforcement   of  prohibitory   legislation,   in   which   alone 
lies  the  hope  of  the  protection  of  the  people  from  the  liquor 
traffic,  it  is  necessary  that  the  legislative,  executive,  and  judi- 
cial branches  of  government  should  be  in  the  hands  of  a  politi- 
cal  party    in   harmony   with   the    prohibition   principle,   and 
pledged  to  its  embodiment  in  law  and  to  the  execution  of  those 
laws. 

5.  We  pledge  the  Prohibition  party  wherever  given  power 
by  the  suffrages  of  the  people,  to  the  enactment  and  enforce- 
ment  of   laws   prohibiting   and   abolishing   the   manufacture, 
importation,  transportation,  and  sale  of  alcoholic  beverages. 

6.  We  declare  that  there  is  not  only  no  other  issue  of  equal 
importance  before  the  American  people  to-day,  but  that  the 
so-called   issues  upon  which  the  Democratic  and  Republican 
parties  seek  to  divide  the  electorate  of  the  country  are,  in 
large  part,  subterfuges  under  the  cover  of  which  they  wrangle 
for  the  spoils  of  office. 

7.  Recognizing  that   the   intelligent  voters   of  the   country 
may  properly, ask  our  attitude  upon  other  questions  of  public 
concern,  we  declare  ourselves  in  favor  of:  — 

The  impartial  enforcement  of  all  law. 

The  safeguarding  of  the  people's  rights  by  a  rigid  appli- 
cation of  the  principles  of  justice  to  all  combinations  of  capital 
and  labor. 

The  recognition  of  the  fact  that  the  right  of  suffrage  should 
depend  upon  the  mental  and  moral  qualifications  of  the  citizen. 

A  more  intimate  relation  between  the  people  and  govern- 
ment by  a  wise  application  of  the  principles  of  the  initiative 
and  referendum. 

Such  changes  in  our  laws  as  will  place  tariff  schedules  in 
the  hands  of  an  omni-partisan  commission. 

The  application  of  uniform  laws  for  all  our  country  and 
dependencies. 

The  election  of  United  States  Senators  by  vote  of  the  people. 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  40? 

The  extension  and  honest  administration  of  the  civil  service 
laws. 

The  safeguarding  of  the  peoples'  every  place  under  the 
government  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  all  the 
rights  guaranteed  by  the  laws  and  the  Constitution. 

International  arbitration,  and  we  declare  that  our  nation 
should  contribute  in  every  manner  consistent  with  national 
dignity  to  the  permanent  establishment  of  peace  between  all 
nations. 

The  reform  of  our  divorce  laws,  the  final  extirpation  of 
polygamy,  and  the  total  overthrow  of  the  present  shameful 
system  of  the  illegal  sanction  of  the  social  evil,  with  its 
unspeakable  traffic  in  girls  by  the  municipal  authorities  of 
almost  all  our  cities. 


Socialist- Labor  National  Executive  Committee: 

Secretary,  HENRY  KUHN,  of  New  York. 

SOCIALIST-LABOR  CONVENTION. 

New  York,  July  3-9,  1904. 
Chairman  pro  tern.,  WM.  W.  Cox, 

of  Illinois. 

At  each  session  presiding  officers  were  chosen  for  the  day. 
NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Charles  H.  Corregan, 

of  New  York. 

For  Vice-President,  William  W.  Cox, 

of  Illinois. 

The  eleventh  national  convention  of  the  Socialist-Labor 
party,  composed  of  38  delegates,  representing  18  states, 
assembled  in  Grand  Central  Palace,  New  York  City.  On 
the  fourth  day  the  convention,  without  division,  nominated 
Charles  H.  Corregan  for  President  and  William  W.  Cox 


408       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

for  Vice-President.  After  six  days  spent  in  deliberation 
the  convention  adjourned,  having  adopted  the  following 
platform : — 

SOCIALIST-LABOR  PARTY  PLATFORM. 

The  Socialist-Labor  party  of  America,  in  convention  assem- 
bled, reasserts  the  inalienable  right  of  man  to  life,  liberty, 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness. 

We  hold  that  the  purpose  of  government  is  to  secure  to  every 
citizen  the  enjoyment  of  this  right;  but  taught  by  experience 
we  hold  furthermore  that  such  right  is  illusory  to  the  majority 
of  the  people,  to  wit,  the  working  class,  under  the  present 
system  of  economic  inequality,  that  is  essentially  destructive 
of  their  life,  their  liberty,  and  their  happiness. 

We  hold  that  the  true  theory  of  politics  is  that  the  machinery 
of  government  must  be  controlled  by  the  whole  people,  but 
again  taught  by  experience  we  hold  furthermore  that  the  true 
theory  of  economics  is  that  the  means  of  production  must 
likewise  be  owned,  operated,  and  controlled  by  the  people  in 
common.  Man  cannot  exercise  his  right  of  life,  liberty,  and 
the  pursuit  of  happiness  without  the  ownership  of  the  land 
on  and  the  tool  with  which  to  work.  Deprived  of  these,  his 
life,  his  liberty,  and  his  fate  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  class 
that  owns  those  essentials  for  work  and  production. 

We  hold  that  the  existing  contradiction  between  the  theory 
of  democratic  government  and  the  fact  of  a  despotic  economic 
system — the  private  ownership  of  the  natural  and  social  oppor- 
tunities— divides  the  people  into  two  classes:  the  Capitalist 
class  and  the  Working  class;  throws  society  into  the  convul- 
sions of  the  class  struggle;  and  perverts  government  to  the 
exclusive  benefit  of  the  Capitalist  class. 

Thus  labor  is  robbed  of  the  wealth  which  it  alone  produces, 
is  denied  the  means  of  self-employment,  and,  by  compulsory 
idleness  in  wage  slavery,  is  even  deprived  of  the  necessaries 
of  life. 

Against  such  a  system  the  Socialist-Labor  party  raises  the 
banner  of  revolt,  and  demands  the  unconditional  surrender  of 
the  Capitalist  class. 

The  time  is  fast  coming  when  in  the  natural  course  of  social 
evolution,  this  system,  through  the  destructive  action  of  its 
failures  and  crises,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  constructive  tend- 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  409 

encies  of  its  trusts  and  other  capitalist  combinations,  on  the 
other  hand,  will  have  worked  out  its  own  downfall. 

We,  therefore,  call  upon  the  wage-workers  of  America  to 
organize  under  the  banner  of  the  Socialist-Labor  party  into 
a  class-conscious  body,  aware  of  its  rights  and  determined  to 
conquer  them. 

And  we  also  call  upon  all  other  intelligent  citizens  to  place 
themselves  squarely  upon  the  ground  of  working  class  inter- 
ests, and  join  us  in  this  mighty  and  noble  work  of  human 
emancipation,  so  that  we  may  put  summary  end  to  the  existing 
barbarous  class  conflict  by  placing  the  land  and  all  the  means 
of  production,  transportation,  and  distribution  into  the  hands 
of  the  people  as  a  collective  body,  and  substituting  the  Co-oper- 
ative Commonwealth  for  the  present  state  of  planless  produc- 
tion, industrial  war,  and  social  disorder — a  commonwealth  in 
which  every  worker  shall  have  the  free  exercise  and  full 
benefit  of  his  faculties,  multiplied  by  all  the  modern  factors 
of  civilization. 


SOCIALIST    DEMOCRATIC    (PARTY    OF    AMERICA) 
CONVENTION. 

Chicago,  111.,  May  1-6, 1904. 
The  chairmen  of  the  convention  were  elected  daily. 
NOMINATED — 

For  President,  Eugene  V.  Debs, 

of  Indiana. 

For  Vice-President,  Benjamin  Hanford, 

of  New  York. 
The  following  platform  was  adopted : — 

SOCIAL  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM. 

THE  DEFENDER  OF  INDIVIDUAL  LIBERTY. 

We,  the  Socialist  party,  in  convention  assembled,  make  our 
appeal  to  the  American  people  as  the  defender  and  preserver 
of  the  idea  of  liberty  and  self-government,  in  which  the  nation 


410        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

was  born;  as  the  only  political  movement  standing  for  the 
program  and  principles  by  which  the  liberty  of  the  individual 
may  become  a  fact;  as  the  only  political  organization  that  is 
democratic,  and  that  has  for  its  purpose  the  democratizing  of 
the  whole  society. 

To  this  idea  of  liberty  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties 
are  utterly  false.  They  alike  struggle  for  power  to  maintain 
and  profit  by  an  industrial  system  which  can  be  preserved 
only  by  the  complete  overthrow  of  such  liberties  as  we  already 
have,  and  by  the  still  further  enslavement  and  degradation  of 
labor. 

Our  American  institutions  came  into  the  world  in  the  name 
of  freedom.  They  have  been  seized  upon  by  the  capitalist  class 
as  the  means  of  rooting  out  the  idea  of  freedom  from  among 
the  people.  Our  state  and  national  legislatures  have  become 
the  mere  agencies  of  great  propertied  interests.  These  inter- 
ests control  the  appointments  and  decisions  of  the  judges  of 
our  courts.  They  have  come  into  what  is  practically  a  private 
ownership  of  all  the  functions  and  forces  of  government.  They 
are  using  these  to  betray  and  conquer  foreign  and  weaker 
peoples,  in  order  to  establish  new  markets  for  the  surplus 
goods  which  the  people  make,  but  are  too  poor  to  buy.  They 
are  gradually  so  invading  and  restricting  the  right  of  suffrage 
as  to  take  unawares  the  right  of  the  worker  to  a  vote  or  voice 
in  public  affairs.  By  enacting  new  and  misinterpreting  old 
laws,  they  are  preparing  to  attack  the  liberty  of  the  individual 
even  to  speak  or  think  for  himself  or  for  the  common  good. 

By  controlling  all  sources  of  social  revenue,  the  possessing 
class  is  able  to  silence  what  might  be  the  voice  of  the  protest 
against  the  passing  of  liberty  and  the  coming  of  tyranny.  It 
completely  controls  the  university  and  public  school,  the  pulpit 
and  the  press,  arts  and  literatures.  By  making  these  economi- 
cally dependent  upon  itself,  it  has  brought  all  the  forms  of 
public  teaching  into  servile  submission  to  its  own  interests. 

Our  political  institutions  are  also  being  used  as  the  destroy- 
ers of  that  individual  property  upon  which  all  liberty  and 
opportunity  depend.  The  promise  of  economic  independence 
to  each  man  was  one  of  the  faiths  in  which  our  institutions 
were  founded.  But  under  the  guise  of  defending  private  prop- 
erty, capitalism  is  using  our  political  institutions  to  make  it 
impossible  for  the  vast  majority  of  human  beings  to  ever 
become  possessors  of  private  property  in  the  means  of  life. 
Capitalism  is  the  enemy  and  destroyer  of  essential  private 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  411 

property.  Its  development  is  through  the  legalized  confisca- 
tion of  all  that  the  labor  of  the  working  class  produces,  above 
its  subsistence  wage.  The  private  ownership  of  the  means 
of  employment  grounds  society  in  an  economic  slavery  which 
renders  intellectual  and  political  tyranny  inevitable. 

Socialism  comes  so  to  organize  industry  and  society  that 
every  individual  shall  be  secure  in  that  private  property  in 
the  means  of  life  upon  which  his  liberty  of  being,  thought, 
and  action  depend.  It  comes  to  rescue  the  people  from  the 
fast  increasing  and  successful  assault  of  capitalism  upon  the 
liberty  of  the  individual. 

INTERNATIONAL  SOCIALISM  VS.   INTERNATIONAL  CAPITALISM. 

II.  As  an  American  Socialist  party,  we  pledge  our  fidelity 
to  the  principles  of  International  Socialism,  as  embodied  in 
the  united  thought  and  action  of  the  Socialists  of  all  nations. 
In  the  industrial  development  already  accomplished,  the  inter- 
ests  of  the   world's   workers   are   separated   by   no   national 
boundaries.    The  condition  of  the  most  exploited  and  oppressed 
workers,  in  the  most  remote  places  of  the  earth,  inevitably 
tends  to  drag  down  all  the  workers  of  the  world  to  the  same 
level.     The  tendency  of  the  competitive  wage   system   is  tc 
make  labor's  lowest  condition  the  measure  or  rule  of  its  uni- 
versal condition.    Industry  and  finance  are  no  longer  national 
but  international  in  both  organizations  and  results.    The  chief 
significance  of  national  boundaries,  and  of  the  so-called  patriot- 
isms which  the  ruling  class  of  each  nation  is  seeking  to  revive, 
is  the  power  which  these  give  to  capitalism  to  keep  the  workers 
of  the  world  from  uniting,  and  to  throw  them  against  each 
other  in  the  struggles  of  contending  capitalist  interests  for 
the  control  of  the  yet  unexploited  markets  of  the  world,  or  the 
remaining  sources  of  profit. 

The  Socialist  movement  therefore  is  a  world-movement. 
It  knows  of  no  conflicts  between  the  workers  of  one  nation 
and  the  workers  of  another.  It  stands  for  the  freedom  of  the 
workers  of  all  nations;  and,  in  so  standing,  it  makes  for  the 
fulJ  freedom  of  all  humanity. 

THE  WOBKEBS  VS.  THE  SHIBKEB8. 

III.  The  Socialist  movement  owes  its  birth  and  growth  to 
that  economic  development  or  world  process  which  is  rapidly 
separating  a  working  or  producing  class  from  a  possessing  or 
capitalist  class.     The  class  that  produces  nothing  possesses 


412        NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

labor's  fruits,  and  the  opportunities  and  enjoyments  these 
fruits  afford,  while  the  class  that  does  the  world's  real  work 
has  increasing  economic  uncertainty,  and  physical  and  intel- 
lectual misery  as  its  portion. 

The  fact  that  these  two  classes  have  not  yet  become  fully 
conscious  of  their  distinction  from  each  other,  the  fact  that 
the  lines  of  division  and  interest  may  not  yet  be  clearly  drawn, 
does  not  change  the  fact  of  the  class  conflict. 

This  class  struggle  is  due  to  the  private  ownership  of  the 
means  of  employment,  or  the  tools  of  production.  Wherever 
and  whenever  man  owned  his  own  land  and  tools,  and  by  them 
produced  only  the  things  which  he  used,  economic  indepen- 
dence was  possible.  But  production,  or  the  making  of  goods, 
has  long  ceased  to  be  individual.  The  labor  of  scores,  or  even 
thousands,  enters  into  almost  every  article  produced.  Produc- 
tion is  now  social,  or  collective.  Practically  everything  is  made 
or  done  by  many  men — sometimes  separated  by  seas  or  conti- 
nents— working  together  for  the  same  end.  But  this  co-opera- 
tion in  production  is  not  for  the  direct  use  of  the  things  made 
by  the  workers  who  make  them,  but  for  the  profit  of  the  owners 
of  the  tools  and  means  of  production;  and  to  this  is  due  the 
present  division  of  society  into  two  distinct  classes,  and  from 
it  has  sprung  all  the  miseries,  inharmonies,  and  contradictions 
of  our  civilization. 

Between  these  two  classes  there  can  be  no  possible  compro- 
mise or  identity  of  interests,  any  more  than  there  can  be  peace 
in  the  midst  of  war,  or  light  in  the  midst  of  darkness.  A 
society  based  upon  this  class  division  carries  in  itself  the 
seeds  of  its  own  destruction.  Such  a  society  is  founded  in 
fundamental  injustice.  There  can  be  no  possible  basis  for 
social  peace,  for  individual  freedom,  for  mental  and  moral 
harmony,  except  in  the  conscious  and  complete  triumph  of 
the  working  class  as  the  only  class  that  has  the  right  or 
power  to  be. 

SOCIALISM  THE  ONLY  SAVING  FOBCE. 

IV.  The  Socialist  program  is  not  a  theory  imposed  upon 
society  for  its  acceptance  or  rejection.  It  is  but  the  interpre- 
tation of  what  is,  sooner  or  later,  inevitable.  Capitalism  is 
already  struggling  to  its  destruction.  It  is  no  longer  compe- 
tent to  organize  or  administer  the  work  of  the  world,  or  even 
to  preserve  itself.  The  captains  of  industry  are  appalled  at 
their  own  inability  to  control  or  direct  the  rapidly  socializing 


ELECTION  OF  1904.  413 

forces  of  industry.  The  so-called  trust  is  but  a  sign  and  form 
of  this  developing  socialization  of  the  world's  work.  The 
universal  increase  of  the  uncertainty  of  employment,  the  uni- 
versal capitalist  determination  to  break  down  the  unity  of 
labor  in  the  trades  unions,  the  widespread  apprehension  of 
impending  change,  reveal  that  the  institutions  of  capitalist' 
society  are  passing  under  the  power  of  inhering  forces  that 
will  soon  destroy  them. 

Into  the  midst  of  the  strain  and  crisis  of  civilization,  the 
Socialist  movement  comes  as  the  only  saving  or  conservative 
force.  If  the  world  is  to  be  saved  from  chaos,  from  universal 
disorder  and  misery,  it  must  be  by  the  union  of  the  workers 
cf  all  nations  in  the  Socialist  movement.  The  Socialist  party 
comes  with  the  only  proposition  or  program  for  intelligently 
and  deliberately  organizing  the  nation  for  the  common  good 
of  all  its  citizens.  It  is  the  first  time  that  the  mind  of  man 
has  ever  been  directed  toward  the  conscious  organization  of 
society. 

Socialism  means  that  all  those  things  upon  which  the  people 
in  common  depend  shall  by  the  people  in  common  be  owned 
and  administered.  It  means  that  the  tools  of  employment  shall 
belong  to  the  creators  and  users;  that  all  production  shall  be 
for  the  direct  use  of  the  producers;  that  the  making  of  goods 
for  profit  shall  come  to  an  end;  that  we  shall  all  be  workers 
together,  and  that  opportunities  shall  be  open  and  equal  to  all 
men. 

TO   SECURE   IMMEDIATE   INTEBESTS    OF   THE   WORKERS. 

V.  To  the  end  that  the  workers  may  seize  every  possible 
advantage  that  may  strengthen  them  to  gain  complete  control 
of  the  powers  of  government,  and  thereby  the  sooner  establish 
the  co-operative  commonwealth,  the  Socialist  party  pledges 
itself  to  watch  and  work  in  both  the  economic  and  the  political 
struggle  for  each  successive  immediate  interest  of  the  work- 
ing class;  for  shortened  days  of  labor  and  increase  of  wages; 
for  the  insurance  of  the  workers  against  accident,  sickness,  and 
lack  of  employment;  for  pensions  for  aged  and  exhausted 
workers;  for  the  public  ownership  of  the  means  of  transporta- 
tion, communication,  and  exchange;  for  the  graduated  taxa- 
tion of  incomes,  inheritances,  and  of  franchise  and  land  values, 
the  proceeds  to  be  applied  to  pubMt  smployment  and  bettering 
the  condition  of  the  workers;  for  the  equal  suffrage  of  men  and 
women;  for  the  prevention  of  the  use  of  the  military  against 


414       NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  AND  PLATFORMS. 

labor  in  the  settlement  of  strikes;  for  the  free  administration 
of  justice;  for  popular  government,  including  initiative,  refer- 
endum, proportional  representation,  and  the  recall  of  officers 
by  their  constituents;  and  for  every  gain  or  advantage  for  the 
workers  that  may  be  wrested  from  the  capitalist  system,  and 
that  may  relieve  the  suffering  and  strengthen  the  hands  ot 
labor.  We  lay  upon  every  man  elected  to  any  executive  or 
.  legislative  office  the  first  duty  of  striving  to  procure  whatever 
is  for  the  workers'  most  immediate  interest,  and  whatever  will 
lessen  the  economic  and  political  powers  of  the  capitalist  and 
increase  the  like  powers  of  the  worker. 

But,  in  so  doing,  we  are  using  these  remedial  measures  as 
means  to  one  great  end — the  Co-operative  Commonwealth. 
Such  measures  of  relief  as  we  may  be  able  to  force  from  capi- 
talism are  but  a  preparation  of  the  workers  to  seize  the  whole 
powers  of  government,  in  order  that  they  may  thereby  lay 
hold  of  the  whole  system  of  industry,  and  thus  come  into  their 
rightful  inheritance. 

To  this  end  we  pledge  ourselves,  as  the  party  of  the  working 
class,  to  use  all  political  power,  as  fast  as  it  shall  be  intrusted 
to  us  by  our  fellow-workers,  both  for  their  immediate  interests 
and  for  their  ultimate  and  complete  emancipation.  To  this 
end  we  appeal  to  all  the  workers  of  America,  and  to  all  who 
will  lend  their  lives  to  the  service  of  the  workers  in  their 
struggle  to  gain  their  own,  and  to  all  who  will  nobly  and 
disinterestedly  give  their  days  and  energies  unto  the  workers' 
cause,  to  cast  their  lot  and  faith  with  the  Socialist  party. 
Our  appeal  for  the  trust  and  suffrages  of  our  fellow-workers 
is  at  once  an  appeal  for  their  common  good  and  freedom,  and 
for  the  freedom  and  blossoming  of  our  common  humanity. 
In  pledging  ourselves,  and  those  we  represent,  to  be  faithful 
to  the  appeal  which  we  make,  we  believe  that  we  are  but 
preparing  the  soil  of  the  economic  freedom  from  which  will 
spring  the  freedom  of  the  whole  man. 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX. 


Formation  of  National  Conventions. 

The  meeting  of  a  National  Convention  is  provided  for  by 
the  assembling  of  the  National  Committee  of  the  party  at  some 
period  usually  about  six  months  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the 
convention,  at  which  time  the  National  Committee  formulates 
a  call  for  the  National  Convention  and  publishes  the  ratio 
and  number  of  delegates  to  which  each  state  is  entitled  in  the 
same,  together  with  the  manner  of  choosing  them.  It  is  usual 
for  the  committee  at  this  time  also  to  select  the  place  where 
the  National  Convention  shall  be  held  and  to  appoint  an 
executive  committee  to  take  charge  of  the  arrangements  inci- 
dent to  the  meeting  of  the  convention.  A  few  days  before  the 
meeting  of  the  convention  the  National  Committee,  or  its 
Executive  Committee,  meets  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  the 
program  of  the  proceedings.  The  selection  of  the  persons  to 
be  presented  as  officers  of  the  convention  is  made  at  this  time 
— namely,  the  temporary  and  permanent  chairmen,  and  the 
secretary.  The  convention  usually  ratifies  the  selections  of 
the  National  Committee,  although  instances  are  known  where 
others  have  been  selected  by  the  convention. 

The  temporary  organization  of  the  National  Convention  is 
intended  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  permanent  organization, 
which  preliminary  work  consists  of  the  appointment  of  the 
standing  committees  of  the  convention,  the  Committee  on 
Credentials  being  the  most  important,  as  it  reports  a  roll  of 
delegates  entitled  to  seats  in  the  convention.  After  this  has 
been  accomplished  the  permanent  organization  takes  place, 
and  the  business  of  the  convention  is  proceeded  with.  The 
contesting  delegations  in  nearly  all  National  Conventions  con- 
sume one  01  two  days,  and  sometimes  more,  in  pressing  their 
claims  before  the  Committee  on  Credentials.  All  notices  of 
contest  are  filed  with  the  National  Committee,  in  writing, 
which  papers  are  passed  to  the  Committee  on  Credentials  with 
the  official  roll  as  reported  by  the  National  Committee. 

(l) 


APPENDIX. 

It  is  usual  at  the  close  of  the  convention,  or  at  some  time 
during  its  meeting,  for  each  state  delegation  to  select  some 
person  as  the  state  member  of  the  National  Committee.  These, 
when  reported  to  the  convention,  are  usually  summoned  to 
meet  before  the  convention  closes  its  business.  At  this  meet- 
ing the  committee  organizes  and  the  National  Chairman  and 
Secretary  are  chosen,  unless  for  some  reason  the  matter  is 
deferred  to  some  future  day.  The  members  of  the  National 
Committee  are  chosen  for  four  years,  or  until  the  meeting  of 
the  next  National  Convention,  when  the  same  process  brings 
about  a  new  organization. 

Democratic  Conventions. 

In  Democratic  National  Conventions  the  state  has  always 
been  the  normal  voting  unit.  The  casting  of  the  vote  of  the 
state  as  a  unit,  by  the  will  of  a  majority  of  the  delegation, 
has  always  been  recognized  as  legitimate  and  regular;  and 
when  the  vote  of  a  state  has  been  divided  and  the  minority  of 
the  delegation  allowed  a  voice,  it  has  been  by  the  will  of  the 
delegation,  not  of  the  convention.  In  this  there  is  the  proba- 
bility that  an  unavailable  candidate  might  be  nominated  by 
the  concurrent  vote  of  a  number  of  states  none  of  which  could 
possibly  be  carried  by  any  Democratic  candidate.  In  order  to 
prevent  this,  the  celebrated  "  two-thirds  rule "  has  always 
been  the  law  of  Democratic  National  Conventions:  it  requires 
two  thirds  of  the  vote  to  secure  the  nomination  of  a  candidate. 
It  has  never  been  formally  settled  whether  the  two  thirds  is 
of  all  the  delegates  present  or  of  all  the  delegates  admitted; 
but  in  the  nominations  of  Douglas  and  Breckinridge  in  1860 
the  former  method  was  employed.  Each  state  is  entitled  to 
two  delegates  for  each  electoral  vote.  Delegates  are  also  ad- 
mitted from  each  one  of  the  territories  and  from  the  District 
of  Columbia,  but  with  no  right  to  vote,  unless  granted  by  the 
convention;  since  their  constituents  cannot  vote  at  the  elec- 
tions. The  parliamentary  rules  of  the  National  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives usually  govern  the  action  of  the  convention,  when 
not  in  conflict  with  its  own  orders. 

Republican  Conventions. 

A  Republican  National  Convention  consists  of  two  delegates 
for  each  electoral  vote  in  the  states;  and  delegates  are  also 
admitted  from  each  one  of  the  territories  and  from  the  Dis- 

(3) 


APPENDIX. 

trict  of  Columbia,  but  with  no  right  to  vote,  unless  granted 
by  the  convention;  since  their  constituents  cannot  vote  at  the 
elections.  The  voting  unit  has  always  been  the  congressional 
districts  or  the  individual  delegate.  Among  party  managers 
there  has  always  been  a  lurking  desire  to  introduce  the  Demo- 
cratic unit  system  of  a  state  voting  and  the  "  two-thirds  rule," 
but  only  one  serious  attempt  has  been  made  to  enforce  it.  In 
1876  the  state  conventions  of  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and, 
Illinois  instructed  their  delegations  to  vote  as  a  unit,  though 
a  strong  minority  had  been  elected  under  instructions  from 
their  local  conventions  to  vote  for  other  candidates.  The 
National  Convention  sustained  the  minority  in  their  claim  of  a 
right  to  cast  their  votes  without  regard  to  the  instructions  of 
the  state  conventions.  Since  the  call  for  the  convention  of 
1888  was  issued  by  the  National  Convention,  it  may  be  laid 
down  as  the  Republican  theory  that  the  local  conventions  in 
the  congressional  districts  are  to  select  delegates,  instructing 
them,  but  not  irrevocably;  and  that  the  state  conventions  are 
only  to  select  the  four  delegates  corresponding  to  the  state's 
senatorial  share  of  the  electoral  votes,  with  two  additional 
delegates  if  the  state  elects  a  congressman-at-large.  Any 
usurpation  of  powers  by  the  state  convention  is  usually  sum- 
marily set  aside  by  the  National  Convention.  The  rules  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives  are  usually  adopted  for 
the  government  of  the  convention,  when  not  in  conflict  with 
its  own  orders, 

Other  Conventions. 

The  conventions  of  other  parties  which  appeared  from  time 
to  time  have  usually  followed  the  Republican  rather  than  the 
Democratic  model.  Many  reasons  may  be  assigned  for  this, 
the  principal  one  being  that  most  new  party  organizations  fail 
to  appoint  or  choose  delegates  in  regularly  organized  con- 
ventions. As  a  rule  they  are  appointed  or  chosen  at  mass- 
meetings  or  public  gatherings,  and  it  would  be  hard  to  define 
or  enforce  a  two-thirds  rule  in  such  bodies,  majority  rule  and 
individual  freedom  being  more  popular, 


(£) 


APPENDIX. 


Presidential  Succession  in  Office. 

The  act  of  Congress  entitled  "  An  act  to  provide  for  the 
performance  of  the  duties  of  the  office  of  President  in  case  of 
the  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability  both  of  the  Presi- 
dent and  Vice-President,"  approved  January  19,  1886  (first 
session,  Forty-ninth  Congress),  Statutes,  vol.  24,  p.  1,  provides: 

"  That  in  case  of  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability 
of  both  the  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States, 
the  Secretary  of  State,  or  if  there  be  none,  or  in  case  of  his 
removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability,  then  the  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury,  or  if  there  be  none,  or  in  case  of  his  removal, 
death,  resignation,  or  inability,  then  the  Secretary  of  War,  or 
if  there  be  none,  or  in  case  of  his  removal,  death,  resignation, 
or  inability,  then  the  Attorney-General,  or  if  there  be  none, 
or  in  case  of  his  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability,  then 
the  Postmaster-General,  or  if  there  be  none,  or  in  case  of  his 
removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability,  then  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  or  if  there  be  none,  or  in  case  of  his  removal,  death, 
resignation,  or  inability,  then  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
shall  act  as  President  until  the  disability  of  the  President  or 
Vice-President  is  removed  or  a  President  shall  be  elected: 
Provided,  That  whenever  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  office 
of  President  of  the  United  States  shall  devolve  upon  any  of 
the  persons  named  herein,  if  Congress  be  not  then  in  session, 
or  if  it  would  not  meet  in  accordance  with  law  within  twenty 
days  thereafter,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  person  upon  whom 
said  powers  and  duties  shall  devolve  to  issue  a  proclamation 
convening  Congress  in  extraordinary  session,  giving  twenty 
days'  notice  of  the  time  of  meeting. 

SEC.  2.  That  the  preceding  section  shall  only  be  held  to 
describe  and  apply  to  such  officers  as  shall  have  been  appointed 
by  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  to  the  offices  therein 
named,  and  such  as  are  eligible  to  the  office  of  President  under 
the  Constitution,  and  not  under  impeachment  by  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  at  the  time  the  powers 
and  duties  of  the  office  shall  devolve  upon  them  respectively." 

SUMMARY. 

1.  Secretary  of  State. 

2.  Secretary  of  the  Treasury. 

3.  Secretary  of  War. 

4.  Attorney-General. 
6.  Postmaster- General. 

6.  Secretary  of  the  Navy- 

7.  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


APPENDIX. 
Mode  of  Counting  the  Electoral  Vote. 

The  two  Houses  of  Congress  are  jointly  required  to  be  to- 
gether on  the  second  Wednesday  in  February  succeeding  every 
meeting  of  the  electors  chosen  to  elect  a  President  and  Vice- 
President. 

Respecting  the  powers  conferred  and  the  purposes  implied 
by  such  joint  meeting,  there  has  been  a  great  deal  of  con- 
troversy. The  prevailing  opinion  seems  to  be  that  such  meet- 
ing is  not  a  joint  meeting  in  any  sense,  but  the  two  bodies  are 
assembled  together  each  maintaining  its  own  organization  for 
the  purpose  of  witnessing  the  opening  and  counting  of  the 
electoral  vote. 

The  following  relating  to  the  law  and  history,  with  the 
precedents  cited,  leaves  the  reader  free  to  exercise  his  own 
judgment  as  to  the  nature  and  responsibility  of  the  two  Houses 
of  Congress  in  the  performance  of  this  duty. 

The  following  changes  in  the  Constitution  relating  to  the 
counting  of  the  electoral  vote  are  cited: 

The  original  clause  of  the  Constitution,  article  II,  section  1, 
paragraph  3,  which  was  in  force  until  February  25,  1804,  and 
read  as  follows: 

"  The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote 
by  ballot  for  two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be 
an  Inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves.  And  they 
shall  make  a  List  of  all  the  Persons  voted  for,  and  of  the 
Number  of  Votes  for  each;  which  List  they  shall  sign  and 
certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  Seat  of  the  Government  ot 
the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate. 
The  President  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  Presence  of  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  Certificates, 
and  the  Votes  shall  then  be  counted.  The  Person  having  the 
greatest  Number  of  Votes  shall  be  the  President,  if  such  Num- 
ber be  a  Majority  of  the  whole  Number  of  Electors  appointed; 
and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  have  such  Majority,  and 
have  an  equal  Number  of  Votes,  then  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives shall  immediately  chuse  by  Ballot  one  of  them  for  Presi- 
dent; and  if  no  Person  have  a  Majority,  then  from  the  five 
highest  on  the  List  the  said  House  shall  in  like  Manner  chuse 
the  President.  But  in  chusing  the  President,  the  Votes  shall 
be  taken  by  States,  the  Representation  from  each  State  having 
one  Vote;  A  quorum  for  this  Purpose  shall  consist  of  a  Member 
or  Members  from  two-thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  Majority  of 
all  th«  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  Choice.  In  every  Case, 

(5) 


APPENDIX. 

after  the  Choice  of  the  President,  the  Person  having  the  great- 
est Number  of  Votes  of  the  Electors  shall  be  the  Vice  Presi- 
dent. But  if  there  should  remain  two  or  more  who  have  equal 
Votes,  the  Senate  shall  chuse  from  them  by  Ballot  the  Vice- 
President." 

This  clause  has  been  superseded  by  the  Twelfth  Amendment. 
The  following  is  the  new  paragraph  now  in  force: 

"  ARTICLE  XII. 

The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  states,  and  vote 
by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice-President,  one  of  whom,  at 
least,  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same  state  with  them- 
selves; they  shall  name  in  their  ballots  the  person  voted  for 
as  President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as 
Vice-President,  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of  all  per- 
sons voted  for  as  President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as 
Vice-President,  and  of  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which 
lists  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the 
seat  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the 
President  of  the  Senate; — The  President  of  the  Senate  shall, 
in  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  open 
all  the  certificates  and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted; — The 
person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President,  shall 
be  the  President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  Electors  appointed;  and  if  no  person  have  such 
majority,  then  from  the  persons  having  the  highest  numbers 
not  exceeding  three  on  the  list  of  those  voted  for  as  President, 
the  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  immediately,  by 
ballot,  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes 
shall  be  taken  by  states,  the  representation  from  each  state 
having  one  vote;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a 
member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of  the  states,  and  a 
majority  of  all  the  states  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice.  And 
if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose  a  President 
whenever  the  right  of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before 
the  fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  then  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death  or  other 
constitutional  disability  of  the  President.  The  person  having 
the  greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice-President,  shall  be  the 
Vice-President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  Electors  appointed,  and  if  no  person  have  a  major- 
ity, then  from  the  two  highest  numbers  on  the  list,  the  Senate 
shall  choose  the  Vice-President;  a  quorum  for  the  purpose 
shall  consist  of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of.  Senators, 

(6) 


APPENDIX. 

and  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  shall  be  necessary  to  a 
choice.  But  no  person  constitutionally  ineligible  to  the  office 
of  President  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States." 

The  acts  of  Congress  executory  of  the  electoral  system  are 
cited  as  follows:  Act  March  1,  1792,  obsolete;  Statutes  at 
Large,  volume  1,  page  239;  act  of  January  23,  1845,  Statutes  at 
Large,  volume  13,  page  567;  act  of  January  29,  1877,  Statutes 
at  Large,  volume  19,  page  227.  This  last  act  created  the 
"  Electoral  Commission." 

Under  the  foregoing  statutes  many  very  important  contests 
have  occurred  in  counting  the  electoral  vote.  The  history  of 
each  event  from  1798  to  1877  is  compiled  in  an  octavo  volume 
containing  eight  hundred  pages,  entitled  "  Counting  the  Elec- 
toral Votes,  Proceedings  and  Debates  of  Congress  relating  to," 
compiled  by  order  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  1876,  by 
Hon.  William  M.  Springer,  of  Illinois,  and  George  Willard. 
This  volume  is  designated  "  House  Miscellaneous  Document, 
No.  13,"  second  session,  Forty-fourth  Congress,  to  which  refer- 
ence is  made  that  the  reader  may  find  all  matters  relating  to 
this  complex  question. 

The  crisis  reached  in  the  counting  of  the  electoral  vote  in 
1877  by  the  Electoral  Commission  caused  so  much  dissatisfac- 
tion that  Congress  attempted  to  remedy  the  apparent  defects 
of  the  old  law,  and  after  a  long  struggle,  on  February  3,  1887, 
a  statute  was  completed  under  which  the  electoral  votes  have 
since  been  counted.  This  law  is  so  comprehensive  and  minute 
in  its  details  that  it  is  given  in  full.  The  supplementary  act 
of  October  19,  1888,  is  also  appended. 

"  STATUTE. 

An  act  to  fix  the  day  for  the  meeting  of  the  electors  of  President  and 
Vice-President,  and  to  provide  for  and  regulate  the  counting  of  the  votes 
for  President  and  Vice-President,  and  the  decision  of  questions  arising 
thereon. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  the  electors 
of  each  State  shall  meet  and  give  their  votes  on  the  second 
Monday  in  January  next  following  their  appointment,  at  such 
place  in  each  State  as  the  legislature  of  such  State  shall  direct. 

SEC.  2.  That  if  any  State  shall  have  provided,  by  laws 
enacted  prior  to  the  day  fixed  for  the  appointment  of  the 
electors,  lor  its  final  determination  of  any  controversy  or  con- 

(7) 


APPENDIX. 

test  concerning  the  appointment  of  all  or  any  of  the  electors 
of  such  State,  by  judicial  or  other  methods  or  procedures,  and 
such  determination  shall  have  been  made  at  least  six  days 
before  the  time  fixed  for  the  meeting  of  the  electors,  such 
determination  made  pursuant  to  such  law  so  existing  on  said 
day,  and  made  at  least  six  days  prior  to  the  said  time  of 
meeting  of  the  electors,  shall  be  conclusive,  and  shall  govern 
in  the  counting  of  the  electoral  votes  as  provided  in  the 
Constitution,  and  as  hereinafter  regulated,  so  far  as  the  ascer- 
tainment of  the  electors  appointed  by  such  State  is  concerned. 
SEC.  3.  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  executive  of  each 
State,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  conclusion  of  the  ap- 
pointment of  electors  in  such  State,  by  the  final  ascertainment 
under  and  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  of  such  State  providing  for 
such  ascertainment,  to  communicate,  under  the  seal  of  the 
State,  to  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States,  a  certifi- 
cate of  such  ascertainment  of  the  electors  appointed,  setting 
forth  the  names  of  such  electors  and  the  canvass  or  other 
ascertainment  under  the  laws  of  such  State  of  the  number  of 
votes  given  or  cast  for  each  person  for  whose  appointment  any 
and  all  votes  have  been  given  or  cast;  and  it  shall  also  there- 
upon be  the  duty  of  the  executive  of  each  State  to  deliver  to 
the  electors  of  such  State,  on  or  before  the  day  on  which  they 
are  required  by  the  preceding  section  to  meet,  the  same  certi- 
ficate, in  triplicate,  under  the  seal  of  the  State;  and  such 
certificate  shall  be  inclosed  and  transmitted  by  the  electors  at 
the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  is  provided  by  law 
for  transmitting  by  such  electors  to  the  seat  of  Government 
the  lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  President  and  of  all 
persons  voted  for  as  Vice-President;  and  section  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  of  the  Revised  Statutes  is  hereby  repealed; 
and  if  there  shall  have  been  any  final  determination  in  a  State 
.of  a  controversy  or  contest  as  provided  for  in  section  two 
of  this  act,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  executive  of  such  State 
as  soon  as  practicable  after  such  determination  to  communi- 
cate, under  the  seal  of  the  State,  to  the  Secretary  of  State  of 
the  United  States,  a  certificate  of  such  determination,  in  form 
and  manner  as  the  same  shall  have  been  made;  and  the  Secre- 
tary of  State  of  the  United  States,  as  soon  as  practicable  after 
the  receipt  at  the  State  Department  of  each  of  the  certificates 
hereinbefore  directed  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of 
State  shall  publish,  in  such  public  newspaper  as  he  shall 
designate,  such  certificates  in  full;  and  at  the  first  meeting  of 
Congress  thereafter  he  shall  transmit  to  the  two  Houses  of 

(8) 


APPENDIX. 

Congress  copies  in  full  of  each  and  every  such  certificate  so 
received  theretofore  at  the  State  Department. 

SEC.  4.  That  Congress  shall  be  in  session  on  the  second 
Wednesday  in  February  succeeding  every  meeting  of  the  elec- 
tors. The  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  shall  meet 
in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  at  the  hour  of 
one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  on  that  day,  and  the  President 
of  the  Senate  shall  be  their  presiding  officer.  Two  tellers  shall 
be  previously  appointed  on  the  part  of  the  Senate  and  two  on 
the  part  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  to  whom  shall  be 
handed,  as  they  are  opened  by  the  President  of  the  Senate, 
all  the  certificates  and  papers  purporting  to  be  certificates  of 
the  electoral  votes,  which  certificates  and  papers  shall  be 
opened,  presented,  and  acted  upon  in  the  alphabetical  order  of 
the  States,  beginning  with  the  letter  A;  and  said  tellers,  having 
then  read  the  same  in  the  presence  and  hearing  of  the  two 
Houses,  shall  make  a  list  of  the  votes  as  they  shall  appear 
from  the  said  certificates;  and  the  votes  having  been  ascer- 
tained and  counted  in  the  manner  and  according  to  the  rules 
in  this  act  provided,  the  result  of  the  same  shall  be  delivered 
to  the  President  of  the  Senate,  who  shall  thereupon  announce 
the  state  of  the  vote,  which  announcement  shall  be  deemed  a 
sufficient  declaration  of  the  persons,  if  any,  elected  President 
and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  and,  together  with  a 
list  of  the  votes,  be  entered  on  the  Journals  of  the  two  Houses. 
Upon  such  reading  of  any  such  certificate  or  paper,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Senate  shall  call  for  objections,  if  any.  Every 
objection  shall  be  made  in  writing,  and  shall  state  clearly 
and  concisely,  and  without  argument,  the  ground  thereof,  and 
shall  be  signed  by  at  least  one  Senator  and  one  Member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  before  the  same  shall  be  received. 
When  all  objections  so  made  to  any  vote  or  paper  from  a  State 
shall  have  been  received  and  read,  the  Senate  shall  thereupon 
withdraw,  and  such  objections  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Senate 
for  its  decision;  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives shall,  in  like  manner,  Submit  such  objections  to  the 
House  of  Representatives  for  its  decision;  and  no  electoral 
vote  or  votes  from  any  State  which  shall  have  been  regularly 
given  by  electors  whose  appointment  has  been  lawfully  certi- 
fied to  according  to  section  three  of  this  act  from  which  but 
one  return  has  been  received  shall  be  rejected,  but  the  two 
Houses  concurrently  may  reject  the  vote  or  votes  when  they 
agree  that  such  vote  or  votes  have  not  been  so  regularly 
given  by  electors  whose  appointment  has  been  so  certified. 

(0) 


APPENDIX. 

If  more  than  one  return  or  paper  purporting  to  be  a  return 
from  a  State  shall  have  been  received  by  the  President  of  the 
Senate,  those  votes,  and  those  only,  shall  be  counted  which 
shall  have  been  regularly  given  by  the  electors  who  are  shown 
by  the  determination  mentioned  in  section  two  of  this  act  to 
have  been  appointed,  if  the  determination  in  said  section  pro- 
vided for  shall  have  been  made,  or  by  such  successors  or 
substitutes,  in  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  board  of  electors  so 
ascertained,  as  have  been  appointed  to  fill  such  vacancy  in  the 
mode  provided  by  the  laws  of  the  State;  but  in  case  there 
shall  arise  the  question  which  of  two  or  more  of  such  State 
authorities  determining  what  electors  have  been  appointed,  as 
mentioned  in  section  two  of  this  act,  is  the  lawful  tribunal  of 
such  State,  the  votes  regularly  given  of  those  electors,  and 
those  only,  of  such  State  shall  be  counted  whose  title  as 
electors  the  two  Houses,  acting  separately,  shall  concurrently 
decide  is  supported  by  the  decision  of  such  State  so  authorized 
by  its  laws;  and  in  such  case  of  more  than  one  return  or 
paper  purporting  to  be  a  return  from  a  State,  if  there  shall 
have  been  no  such  determination  of  the  question  in  the  State 
aforesaid,  then  those  votes,  and  those  only,  shall  be  counted 
which  the  two  Houses  shall  concurrently  decide  were  cast  by 
lawful  electors  appointed  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the 
State,  unless  the  two  Houses,  acting  separately,  shall  concur- 
rently decide  such  votes  not  to  be  the  lawful  votes  of  the 
legally  appointed  electors  of  such  State.  But  if  the  two 
Houses  shall  disagree  in  respect  of  the  counting  of  such  votes, 
then,  and  in  that  case,  the  votes  of  the  electors  whose  appoint- 
ment shall  have  been  certified  by  the  executive  of  the  State, 
under  the  seal  thereof,  shall  be  counted.  When  the  two 
Houses  have  voted,  they  shall  immediately  again  meet,  and 
the  presiding  officer  shall  then  announce  the  decision  of  the 
questions  submitted.  No  votes  or  papers  from  any  other  State 
shall  be  acted  upon  until  the  objections  previously  made  to 
the  votes  or  papers  from  any  State  shall  have  been  finally 
disposed  of. 

SEC.  5.  That  while  the  two  Houses  shall  be  in  meeting  as 
provided  in  this  act,  the  President  of  the  Senate  shall  have 
power  to  preserve  order;  and  no  debate  shall  be  allowed,  and 
no  question  shall  be  put  by  the  presiding  officer  except  to 
either  House  on  a  motion  to  withdraw. 

SEC.  6.  That  when  the  two  Houses  separate  to  decide  upon 
an  objection  that  may  have  been  made  to  the  counting  of  any 
electoral  vote  or  votes  from  any  State,  or  other  question  aris- 

(10) 


APPENDIX. 

Ing  in  the  matter,  each  Senator  and  Representative  may  speak 
to  such  objection  or  question  five  minutes,  and  not  more  than 
once;  but  after  such  debate  shall  have  lasted  two  hours  it 
shall  be  the  duty,  of  the  presiding  officer  of  each  House  to 
put  the  main  question  without  further  debate. 

SEC.  7.  That  at  such  joint  meeting  of  the  two  Houses  seats 
shall  be  provided  as  follows:  For  the  President  of  the  Senate, 
the  Speaker's  chair;  for  the  Speaker,  immediately  upon  his 
left;  the  Senators,  in  the  body  of  the  Hall,  upon  the  right  of 
the  presiding  officer;  for  the  Representatives,  in  the  body  of 
the  Hall  not  provided  for  the  Senators;  for  the  tellers,  Secre- 
tary of  the  Senate,  and  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
at  the  Clerk's  desk;  for  the  other  officers  of  the  two  Houses, 
in  front  of  the  Clerk's  desk  and  upon  each  side  of  the 
Speaker's  platform.  Such  joint  meeting  shall  not  be  dissolved 
until  the  count  of  electoral  votes  shall  be  completed  and  the 
result  declared;  and  no  recess  shall  be  taken  unless  a  question 
shall  have  arisen  in  regard  to  counting  any  such  votes,  or 
otherwise  under  this  act,  in  which  case  it  shall  be  competent 
for  either  House,  acting  separately,  in  the  manner  herein- 
before provided,  to  direct  a  recess  of  such  House  not  beyond 
the  next  calendar  day,  Sunday  excepted,  at  the  hour  of  ten 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon.  But  if  the  counting  of  the  electoral 
votes  and  the  declaration  of  the  result  shall  not  have  been 
completed  before  the  fifth  calendar  day  next  after  such  first 
meeting  of  the  two  Houses,  no  further  or  other  recess  shall 
be  taken  by  either  House. 

Approved,  February  3,  1887.     (Statutes,  vol.  15,  p.  373.)" 

"  STTPPIJJMENTARY  STATUTE. 

An  act  supplementary  to  the  act  approved  February  third,  eighteen 
hundred  and  eighty-seven,  entitled  "  An  act  to  fix  the  day  for  the  meeting 
of  the  electors  of  President  and  Vice-President,  and  to  provide  for  and 
regulate  the  counting  of  the  votes  for  President  and  Vice-President,  and 
the  decision  of  questions  arising  thereon." 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  a-ssembled,  That  the  certifi- 
cates and  lists  of  votes  for  President  and  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States,  mentioned  in  chapter  one  of  title  three  of 
the  Revised  Statutes  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  act  to 
which  this  is  a  supplement,  shall  be  forwarded,  in  the  manner 
therein  provided,  to  the  President  of  the  Senate  forthwith 
after  the  second  Monday  in  January,  on  which  the  electors 
iiall  give  their  votes." 

rm 


First  Events. 

First  presidential  election  occurred  January  7,  1789. 

First  presidential  succession  act  was  passed  by  Congress  March  1, 
1792. 

First  president  elected  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  no  choice 
having  been  made  by  the  people  at  the  election  of  1800,  was  Thomas 
Jefferson,  February  17,  1801. 

First  regular  caucus  of  members  of  Congress  for  the  nomination  of 
a  presidential  candidate  was  held  February  25,  1804,  in  Washington. 

First  election  in  which  the  electors  were  required  by  the  Constitu- 
tion to  ballot  separately  for  President  and  Vice-President,  was  that 
of  1804. 

First  declination  of  a  nomination  for  Vice-President  was  by  John 
Langdon  in  1812. 

First  recorded  popular  vote  was  that  of  the  election  of  1824,  the 
total  vote  cast  was  352,062. 

For  the  first  time  all  presidential  candidates  were  nominated  by 
conventions  in  1832. 

The  "two-thirds"  rule  adopted  by  the  Democratic  convention 
May  21,  1832. 

First  platform  ever  adopted  was  issued  in  May,  1832,  by  the 
National  Republicans. 

First  election  of  Vice-President  by  the  Senate,  no  candidate  having 
received  a  majority  of  the  electoral  votes  cast,  took  place  in  1837, 
Richard  M.  Johnson  being  elected. 

First  time  the  unit  rule  was  adopted  was  in  the  election  of  1840 
by  the  Whig  convention. 

First  national  committee  was  organized  in  the  election  of  1848  by 
the  Democratic  convention. 

Presidential  electors  chosen  in  the  election  of  1848  for  the  first 
time  under  the  law  requiring  their  appointment  on  the  Tuesday  next 
after  the  first  Monday  in  November  of  the  election  year. 

First  National  Republican  convention  held  at  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  17,  1856. 

First  army  vote  occurred  in  the  election  of  1864. 


List  of  Presidents  and  Viee-Presidents  of  the 
United  States. 


PRESIDENTS. 

1.  George  Washington..  1789-93. 
George  Washington.  .1793-97. 

2.  John  Adams 1797-1801. 

3.  Thomas  Jefferson 1801-05. 

Thomas  Jefferson 1805-09. 

4.  Janies  Madison 1809-13. 

James  Madison 1813-17. 

5.  James  Monroe 1817-21. 

James  Monroe 1821-25. 

C.    J.  Q.  Adams 1825-29. 

7.  Andrew  Jackson 1829-33. 

Andrew  Jackson  . . .  .1833-37. 

8.  Martin  Van  Buren. . .  1837-41. 

9.  William  H.  Harrison.  1841-41. 

10.  John  Tyler*  ! 1841-45. 

11.  James  K.  Polk 1845-49. 

12.  Zachary  Taylor 1849-50. 

13.  Millard  Fill  more* 1850-53. 

14.  Franklin  Pierce 1853-57. 

15.  James  Buchanan 1857-61. 

16.  Abraham  Lincoln 1861-65. 

Abraham  Lincoln. . . .  1865-65. 

17.  Andrew  Johnson*  . .  .1865-69. 

18.  Ulysses  S.  Grant 1869-73. 

Ulysses  8.  Grant 1873-77. 

19.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  1877-81. 

20.  James  A.  Garfleld 1881-81. 

21.  Chester  A.  Arthur*.. 1881-85. 

22.  Grover  Cleveland 1885-89. 

23.  Benjamin  Harrison  ..1889-93. 
Grover  Cleveland 1893-97. 

24.  William  McKinley.  1897-1901. 
William  McKinley. .  .1901-01. 

25.  Theodore  Roosevelt* .  1901-05. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

John  Adams 1789-93. 

John  Adams 1793-97. 

Thomas  Jefferson. .  .1797-1801. 

Aaron  Burr 1801-05. 

George  Clinton 1805-09. 

George  Clinton 1809-12. 

Elbridge  Gerry 1813-17. 

Daniel  D.  Tompkins  ..1817-21. 
Daniel  D.  Tompkins  .  .1821-25. 

JohnC.  Calhoun 1825-29. 

JohnC.  Calhoun 1829-33. 

Martin  Van  Buren 1833-87. 

Richard  M.  Johnson. .  .1837-41. 

John  Tyler 1841— 

.« 

George  M.  Dallas 1845-49. 

Millard  Fillmore 1849— 

William  R.  King 1853-57. 

John  C.  Breckinridge.  1857-61. 

Hannibal  Hamlin 1861-65. 

Andrew  Johnson 1865 — 

Schuyler  Coif  ax 1869-73. 

Henry  Wilson 1873-77. 

William  A.  Wheeler  .  .1877-81. 
Chester  A.  Arthur 1881 — 

Thomas  A.  Hendricks.  1885-89. 

Levi  P.  Morton 1889-93. 

Adlai  E.  Stevenson 1893-97. 

Garret  A.  Hobart 1897-99. 

Theodore  Roosevelt. .  .1901 — 


*  Succeeded  at  death  of  President. 


(13) 


Number  of  Delegates  in  National  Conventions 

•where  the  representation  is  made  on  a  basis  of  Apportionment  of 
Members  of  Congress. 


STATES. 


Delegates. 

Alabama 22 

Arkansas 18 

California 20 

Colorado 10 

Connecticut 14 

Delaware 6 

Florida 10 

Georgia 26 

Idaho 6 

Illinois 54 

Indiana 30 

Iowa 26 

Kansas 20 

Kentucky 26 

Louisiana 18 

Maine 12 

Maryland 16 

Massachusetts 32 

Michigan 28 

Minnesota 22 

Mississippi 20 

Missouri 36 

Montana  . , 6 


Delegates. 

Nebraska. 16 

Nevada  6 

New  Hampshire 8 

New  Jersey 24 

New  York 78 

North  Carolina 24 

North  Dakota 8 

Ohio 46 

Oregon 8 

Pennsylvania 68 

Rhode  Island 8 

South  Carolina 18 

South  Dakota 8 

Tennessee 24 

Texas 36 

Utah 6 

Vermont 8 

Virginia 24 

Washington 10 

West  Virginia 14 

Wisconsin 26 

Wyoming 6 


Total 952 


TERRITORIES. 


Alaska 4 

Arizona 6 

District  of  Columbia 2 

Hawaii 6 


Indian  Territory 6 

New  Mexico 6 

Oklahoma 6 

Grand  Total..      ..988 


Necessary  to  a  choice  in  the  Eepublican  convention,  a 
majority;  necessary  to  a  choice  in  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion, two-thirds  of  the  vote.  In  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion the  District  of  Columbia  and  Alaska  are  allowed  6 
delegates  each. 

(14) 


General  Index. 


Abolition  Party   Convention,    PAGE 

1840    43 

1844    51 

1848    70 

Abolitionist  Convention, 

1848    70 

American  Convention, 

1888    254 

American  (Know-Nothing)  Con- 
vention, 
1850    100 

American  National  Convention, 
1876    177 

American  Prohibition  National 
Convention, 
1884    217 

Anti-Masonic  Convention, 

1832    30 

Anti-Monopoly  Convention, 

1884     223 

Army  Vote, 

1864     128 

Constitutional  Union  Convention, 
1860    116 

Democratic  Convention, 

1832    27 

1836    34 

1840     40 

1844     47 

1848    68 

1852    74 

1850    87 

1800     106 

1864     121 

1808     131 

1872     143 

1870    102 

1880     182 

1884     201 

1888     232 

1802    260 

1806     290 

1900    330 

1904  ..382 


Democratic  Convention— Cont.  PAOB 

1852  (Free  Soil) 80 

1860  (Brecklnrldge) 109 

1872  (Straight-Out) 147 

1896  (National  or  Gold)... 314 

Democratic  National  Committee, 

1856     87 

1860    106 

1864    121 

1868    131 

1872     143 

1876     162 

1880    182 

1884     201 

1888    232 

1892     260 

1896    290 

1900     330 

1904     382 

Electoral  Vote, 

1789     3 

1792     5 

1796    7 

1800     9 

1804     11 

1808     13 

1812    15 

1816    17 

1820    19 

1824    22 

1828     26 

1832    33 

1836     38 

1840     45 

1844    67 

1848     72 

1852    85 

1856    104 

1860     119 

1864    129 

1868    141 

1872     160 

1876    180 

1880    199 


(15) 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Electoral  Vote.— Continued. 

1884    

1888     

1892     

1896     

1900 


PAGE 

..230 

..258 
..288 
..328 
..380 


1904     417 

Ecjual     (or     Woman's)     Rights 
Convention, 

1884     226 

1888    256 

Farmers'  Alliance  Convention, 

1890     278 

Free-Soil  Convention, 

1848    66 

1852     80 

Free-Soil    Democratic    Conven- 
tion, 
1852     80 

Greenback  Convention, 

1876     173 

1880    190 

1884     214 

Greenback  National  Convention, 
1884    214 

Independent    National    (Green- 
back) Convention, 
1876    173 

Industrial  Congress, 

1848    70 

Labor  Convention, 

1872     153 

1888    248 

1888    251 

1892     285 

1896     322 

1900    369 

1904     407 

Labor  Reform  Convention, 

1872     153 

Liberty -Abolitionist  Convention, 
1844     51 

Liberty  League  Convention, 

1848     70 

Liberal  Republican  Convention, 

1872     144 

National  Democratic  Convention, 
1896    .  314 


National  Party  Convention,       PAOB 
1896    320 

National  People's  Convention, 

1892     279 

1896     305 

1900     347 

1900   Middle-of-the-Road..353 

National  Prohibition  Convention, 
1884     219 

National  Republican  Convention, 

1832     28 

1836 35 

Native  American  Convention, 

1848     69 

Ocala  (Farmers'  Alliance)  Plat- 
form    278 

People's  Party  Convention, 

1896     305 

1900     347 

1900  Middle-of-the-Road  .  .336 
1904     401 

People's   Party   National    Com- 
mittee, 

1900    347 

1900  Middle-of-the-Road.. 353 
1904  401 

Popular  Vote, 

1824  21 

1828  25 

1832  32 

1836  37 

1840  44 

1844  56 

1848  71 

1852  84 

1856  103 

1860  118 

1864  128 

1868  140 

1872  159 

1876 179 

1880  198 

1884  229 

1888  257 

1892  287 

1896  326 

1900   378 

1904 415 


(16) 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


Populist  Convention, 

1892    

1896     

1900     


PAGE 
..279 
..305 
..347 


1900  Middle-of -the- Road.. 353 

1904  401 

Prohibition  Convention, 

1872  157 

1876  175 

1880  193 

1884  219 

1888  245 

1892  274 

1896  318 

1900  3G2 

1904  404 

Republican  Convention, 

1856  96 

1860  Ill 

1864  123 

1868  136 

1872  149 

1876  168 

1880  185 

1884  209 

1888  237 

1892  269 

1896  298 

1900  339 

1904  393 

Republican  National  Committee, 

1856  96 

1860  Ill 

1864  123 

1868  136 

1872  149 

1876  168 

1880  185 

1884  209 


Republican  National  Com- 
mittee—Continued. 

1888    

1892    , 

1896     

1900     . 


PAGE 


237 

268 

298 

339 

1904     393 

Republican  (Radical)  Convention, 

1864    126 

Silver  Party  Convention, 

1896    310 

Silver  Republican  Convention, 

1900    356 

Social  Democratic  (U.  S.)  Con- 
vention      370 

Social    Democratic    Conven- 
tion       372 

1904     409 

Socialist-Labor  Convention, 

1892     285 

1896    322 

1!)00     369 

1904     407 

Union  Labor  Convention, 

1888    248 

United  Labor  Convention, 

1888    251 

Union    Reform    Nominations  .  .374 
Whig  Convention, 

1836    

1839     

1844     

1848     

1852    

1856    

Woman's  Rights  Convention, 

1884     

1888     . 


.  3.-. 
.  42 
.  49 
.  62 
.  77 
.  94 

.226 
.256 


(17) 


Index  of  Names. 


Abbett,  Leon,  236 
Adams,  Charles  Francis,  66,  145 
Adams,  John,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9 
Adams,    John   Quincy,   19,    21,    22, 

23,  24,  25,  26 

Adams,  John  Quincy  II,  147 
Adams,  Samuel,  7 
Alcorn,  James  L.,  186 
Alger,  Russel  A.,  238 
Allen,  William,  163 
Allen,  William  V,,    305,   401 
Allis,  Edward  P.,  191,  215 
Allison,  William  B.,  238,  298 
Armstrong,  James,  3 
Arthur,  Chester  A.,  185,  186,  199, 

200,  210,  211,  239,  241,  365 
Ashmun,  George,  111 
Atchison,  David  R.,  75 

Banks,  Nathaniel  P.,  97,  112,  160 
Barbour,  James,  28,  42 
Barbour,  Philip  P.,  28 
Barker,    Whartoii,    353,    354,    375, 

379 

Barlow,  J.  L.,  217 
Barnum,  Wm.  H.,  182,  201 
Bascom,  H.  Clay,  274 
Bates,  Edward,  94,  112 
Bates,  Isaac  C.,  42 
Bayard,  James  A..  88,  107,  109 
Bayard,  Thomas  F.,  144,  163,  183, 

202 

Bell,  John,  116,  118,  119 
Belmont,  August,  106,  121,  131 
Benrley,  Charles  E.,  320,  327 
Bidwell,  John,  274,  287 
Bigler,  William,  121 
Birney,  James  G.,  43,  44,  51,  56 
Bishop,  Itichard  M.,  183 
Black,  James,  157,  159 
Black,  John  C.,  202,  232 
Black,  Jeremiah  S.,  144 
Blackburn,  Joseph  S.  C.,  291,  292 
Elaine,    James    G.,    169,    186,    209, 

210,  220,  229,  230,  238,  209 
Blair,  Francis  P.,  Jr.,  131,  132,  141 
Bland,  Richard  P.,  291,  292 
Boies,  Horace,  261,  291,  292 
Booth.  Newton,  174 
Boutelle,  Charles  A.,  245 
Boyd.  Linn,  88 
Bradley,  William  O.,  238 
Bragg,  Edward  S.,  314  • 
Bramlette,  Thomas  E.,  160 
Brecklnridge,  John  C.,  87,  88,  104, 

108,  109,  110,  118,  119 
Breckinrldgc,  Robert  J.,  123 


Brice.  Calvin  S.,  232 

Brlstow,  Benjamin  H.,  169 

Brooks,  John  A.,  245 

Brown,  Aaron  V.,  88 

Brown,    B.    Grata,    143,    144,    145 

153.  160 

Brown,  L.  W.,  356 
Bruce,  Blanche  K.,  186,  238 
Bryan,  W.  G.,  154 
Bryan,   W.   J.,   290,   291,   305,   30.'!, 

310.  313,  326,  328.  330,  347,  3-1  .s, 

356,   375,   378,   380 
Bryce,  J.  S.,  58 
Buchanan,    James,   47,    58,   74,    87, 

103,  104 

Buckner,   Simon  Bolivar,  314 
Bulkeley,  Morgan  G.,  299 
Burke,  Edmund,  363 
Burkett,  Frank,  305 
Burr,  Aaron,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  10 
Butler,  Benjamin  F.,  191,  214,  223, 

224,  229 

Butler,  Marion  C.,  305,  347 
Butler,  William  O.,  58,  59,  62,  72, 

75 

Caffery,  Donelson,  314 

Calhoun,   John   C.,   21,   22,    23,   24. 

26,  47,  58 

Cameron,  J.  Donald,  168,  298 
Cameron,  Simon,  112 
Campbell,  Alexander,  191 
Campbell,  James  E.,  261,  291 
Cannon,  Joseph  G.,  393 
Carlisle,  John  G.,  202,  261 
Carr.  Julian  S.,  331 
Carroll,   George   W.,   405 
Carroll,  William,  40 
Carskadon,  Thomas  R.,  274,  363 
Carter,  Thomas  H..  268 
Cary,  Samuel  F.,  173,  174 
Cass,  George  W.,  122 
Cass,  Lewis,  47,  48,  58,  62,  71,  72. 

74,  87 

Castle,   Homer   L.,   404 
Cnton,  John  D.,  122 
Chamberlin,  Edwin  M.,  153,  154 
Chambers,  B.  J.,  191 
Chandler,  William  E.,  149 
Chandler,  Zach.,  168 
Chapin,  Nettie  Sandford,  2oO 
Chapman,  John  G.,  77 
Chase,    Salmon   P.,    112,    132,    136, 

145 

Chase,  Samuel,  157 
Chase,  Solon,  191,  215 
Church,  Sanford  E.,  132 


(18) 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Claflin,  William,  ISO 

Clark,  Champ,  332 

Clark,  Walter  A.,  202 

Clarkson,  James  S.,  237 

Clay,  Casslus  M.,  112.  145 

Clay,  Henry,  21,  22,  28.  30.  .°,2.  33, 

43,  49,  50,  50,  57,  03,  C4,  05 
Clayton,  John  M.,  <;:{ 
Clayton,  Powell,  200 
Cleveland,    G  rover.    201,    202.    2'.M). 

230,  231,  232,  233.  234.  21.1.  2:>7, 

258,  260,  261,  2S7,  288,  28'.>,  :!17 
Clinton,  DeWltt,  14,  15 
Clinton,  George,  3,  4,  5,  7,  10,  11, 

12,  13 

Cobb,  Howell,  75 
Cochraue,  John,  12(5 
Cockran,  Bourke,  261 
Cockrel),   F.   M.,   383 
Coler.  Bird   S.,  383 
Coif  ax.    Schuyler,    13G,    137,    141, 

142,  149 

Collnmer,  Jacob,  112 
Collier,  John  A.,  62 
Collins,  Patrick  A.,  232 
Colquitt,  Alfred  II..  160 
Connnt,  John  A.,  217 
Coukllug.  Roscoe,  169.  186.  231) 
Cooper,  Peter,  173,  174,  179 
Corregan,   Charles  II.,  407 
Corser,  B.  C.,  356 
Tortelyou,   Oforge   B..   393 
Cowdrey,  Robert  H.,  251,  257 
Cox,  Jacob  D.,  145 
Cox,  Wm.   W..  407 
Coxey,  J.  S..  306 
Cranflll,  J.  B..  274 
Crawford,  William  II.,   20,  21,  22 

23 

Creswell,  John  A.  J.,  137 
Crlttenden,  John  J.,  110 
Cunningham,  Charles  Ii.,  248 
Currnn,  Thomas,  369 
Curtln,  Andrew  G.,  137,  1  tr> 
Cnrtls,  Jarnes  Langdon.  254.  257 
Gushing,  Caleb.  106,  107,  109,  110 

Dallas,  George  M.,  47,  48,  57,  58, 

61 

Dauforth.  Elliott.  331 
Daniel,  William,  219 
Daniel,  John  W..  290.  2!>2 
Davis,  David,  145,  153,  160,  215 
Davis.  B.  J.,  169.  186 
Davis,  Garrett,  100 
1  in  vis.   Ilonry  G.,  382.  383 
Davis,  Jefferson,  59,  75,  106 
Davis,  John,  RO 
Davis.  John  W.,  74 
T)ny.   Horace  H.,  153 
luiyton,    William    L.,    96,    97,    101, 

112 

Dearborn.   Henry  A.  S.,  09 
Deaver,  D.  Clem,  336 


Debs,    Eugene    V.,    306.    372,    375, 

379,   409 

De  Prance,  C.  Q.,  401 
Defrees,  John  D.,  123,  136 
Delano,  H.  A.,  245 
De  Leon,  Daniel,  3G9,  370 
Demorest,  W,  Jennings,  274 
Dennlson,  William,  123 
Depew.  Chauncey  M.,  238,  2'.)9 
Dick,  Charles,  2!)8 
Dickie,  Samuel,  219,  362 
Dickinson,  Daniel  S.,  106,  124 
Dillnye,  Stephen  D.,  101 
Dobbin,  James  C.,  88 
Dodge,  Augustus  C.,  122 
Dodge,  Henry,  66 
Uonelson,     Andrew     Jackson,     SK, 

100,  104 
Donnelly,    Ignatius,   173,   306,  353, 

354,   375 

Doolittle,  James,  132,  143 
Douglas,   Stephen   A.,   74,  87,   10(5, 

107,  108,  118,  119 
Douglass,  Frederick,  238 
Pover,    Rimer.   303 
Dow,  Neal,  193,  194,  198 
Downs,  S.  TI.,  75 
Durant,  Thomas  J.,  173 

Earl,  Thomas,  43 

Eaton,  B.  L.,  363 

Edgerton,  A.  J.,  347 

Edmunds,  George  F.,  186,  210 

Eichelberger,   A.   G.,   374,   375 

Ellington.  C.   H.,  279 

Ellis,   Seth  AV.,   374,   375,  379 

Ellmaker,  Amos,  30,  33 

Ellsworth.  Oliver.  7 

Emmet,  Robert,  90 

English,  Jnmos  E..  132 

English,  William  H.,  182,  183,  1!* 

Erwiu,  John,  109 

Estee.  M.  M.,  237 

Evans,  Henry  Clay,  299 

Evans,  Samuel,  248 

Evarts,  W.  M.,  112 

Everett.  Edward,   116,   117,   119 

Ewlng,  Thomas,  154 

Fairbanks,  Charles  W.,   298,   393, 

394,   398 
Falrchild,  Lucius.  210 

'"airfield,  John,  48 

"assett,  J.  Sioat,  237.  209 

•>nton,  Reuben  E.,  137 

•'erriss.  J.  H.,  401 

Y'sseuden,  Samuel.  209 

•'lolcl,  James  G..  279.  280,  288 
Fl.-ld,  Stephen  J.,  183 
Flllmoro,    ^^llard,   50,    03,    64.    72. 

78,  94.  95.  96,  100.  103.  104 
Flsk,  Clinton  B.,  245,  257 
Flthian.  George  W.,  292 
FltleT.  B.  H..  238 
Fitrpatrlck,  Benjamin,  88,  108 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Flournoy,  Francis  B..  106 
Flower,  Roswell  P.,  202,  314 
Floyd,  John,  33 
Foote,  Chas.  E.,  70 
Foraker,  Joseph  B.,  238 
Freliughuysen,    Theodore,    49,    50, 

51,  57 
Fremont,  John  C.,  06,  97,  102,  103, 

104,  126 

Gallatin,  Albert,  20 

Gardner,  Henry  J.,  100 

Garfleld,  James  A.,   185,   186,   198, 

199,  200,  211,  239 
Garnett,   22 
Geary,  John  W.,  153 
Gerry,  Elbridge,  14,  15 
Gllck,  George  W.,  202 
Goggin,  William  L.,  116 
Gorman,  Arthur  P.,   261,  383 
Graham,    William   A.,    77,    78,    85, 

116 

Granger,  Francis,  36,  37,  »8 
Grant,  Frederick  U.,  2;;8,  299 
Grant.    U.    S.,    124,    130,    140,    1-11, 

142,  149,  150,  152,  159,  100,  161, 

171,  173,  186.  239 
Gray,  George,  383 
Gray,  Isaac  P.,  232,  261 
Greeley,  Horace,  143,  144,  145,  153, 

159,  160,  161 

Greer,  James  II.,  254,  2">5 
Gresham,  Waller  Q.,  210,  238 
Groesbeck,  William  S..  144.  160 
Guthrie,  James,  100,  108,  122 

Hale,  John  P.,  70,  SO,  84 
Hamilton,  Alexander,  313 
Hainlin,   Hannibal,    111,    112,    119, 

124,  137 

Hancock,  John,  3 
Hancock,  Winfleld  S.,  132,  163,  1S2, 

183,  198,  199 
Hanford,  Benjamin,  409 
Hanna,  Marcus  A.,  2!»8,  339 

Hardin,  ,  65 

Harlan,  James,  137 
Harper,  Jesse,  215 
Harper,  Robert  G.,  17,  19 
Harriman,   Job,   370,    372 
Harrison,  Benjamin,  186.  237,  238, 

257,  258,  259,  209,  273,  287,  288, 

300 

Harrison,  Robert  H.,  3 
Harrison,   William    Henry,  35,   30, 

37,  38,  42,  43,   44.  45 
Harrity,  Wm.  F..  260,  2U2 
Hartranft,  John  F.,  16!) 
Hawley,  Joseph  R..  130,  210,  238 
Hayes,  Max  S.,  370 
Haves,    Rutherford    B.,    168,    169, 

*173,  179,  180,  181,  186,  189,  190, 

366 
Haymond,  Creed,  238 


Hearst,  Wm.  R.,  383 
Heath,  Perry  S.,  339 
Henderson,  John  B.,  209 
Hendricks,    Thomas    A.,    132.    160, 

162,  163,  180,  183,  201,  202,  2,J,0, 

231 

Henry,  John,  7 
Henry,  John  F.,  223 
Hewitt,  Abram  S.,  162 
Hickmau,  John,  ll2 
Hill,  David  B.,  261,  291,  331 
Hill,  Isaac,  40 
Hoadly,  George,  182,  202 
Hoar,  George  F.,  185 
Hobart,   Garret  A.,   298,   299,   3128, 

329 

Hogs,  James  S.,  331 
Hopkins,  Andrew  F..  49 
Houston,  Samuel,  100,  116 
Howard,  John  E.,  17 
Howard,  M.  W.,  353,  354 
Hnbbard,  Richard  B.,  201 
Hughes,  T.  C.,  319 
Hunt,  Washington,  116 
Hunter,  R.  M.  T.,  106 
Huntington,  Samuel,  3 

Ingalls,  John  J.,  238 
Ingersoll,  Jared.  14,  15 
Iredell,  James.  7 

Jackson.   Andrew,   21,   22,   23,   24. 

25,   26,   27,   28,   30,   32,   33,   204, 

313,  348 

Jay,  John,  3,  7,  9 
Jefferson,  Thomas,  5,  6,  7,  8.  !).  1<>. 

11,  67,  75,  90,  97,  174.  206,  26i, 

292,  313,  338,  348,  350 
Jenkins.  Charles  J.,  160 
Jewell,  Marshal],  109,  186 
Johnson,    Andrew.    106,    123,    124, 

129,  132,  135,  138 
Johnson,  Hale,  318,  319 
Johnson,  Herschel  V.,  88,  107,  108, 

119 
Johnson.    Richard  M.,    28,    34,    38, 

45,  47,  48 

Johnson,  Samuel,  7 
Johnston,  William  F.,  103 
Jones,  B.  F.,  209 
Jones.  James  K.,  290,  330 
Judd.'N.  B.,  96 
Julian,  George  W.,  80,  84,  145,  153, 

160 

Kelley,  William  D.,  137 

Kernan,  ,  136 

Keogh,  Thos.  B.,  168 

King,  Leicester,  51,  70 

King,  Rufus,  10,  11,  12,  13.  16.  17 

King,  William  R..  59,  74,  75,  85 

Kirkpatrick,  Donald,  177 

Kuhn,  Henry,   369,   407 

Kyle,  James  H..  280 


(20) 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Lacock,  Abner,  28 

Lafayette,  Marquis  de,  61 

Lane,  Henry  S.,  1)6 

Lane,  Joseph,  100,  109,  110,  119 

Laugdon,  John,  13,  14 

Law,  George,  100 

Lawrence,  Abbott,  63 

Lee,  Henry,  33 

Lehmann,  ,  236 

Lemoyne,  Francis.  43 

Leonard,    J.   F.    R.,    379 

Levering,  Joshua,  274,  318,  319,  327 

Lewis,  James  H.,  292 

Lincoln,    Abraham,    97,    111.    112, 

118,  119,  123,  124,  125,  128,  129, 

138,  239,  313,  348 
Lincoln,  Benjamin,  3 
Lincoln,  Robert  T.,  210,  238,  2G9 
Lippitt,  Charles  W..  299 
Lockwood,  Belva  A.,  220,  256 
Lotlgo,   Henry  Cabot.  .T«> 
Logan,  Jonn  A.,  209,  210,  220,  230, 

239 

Loucks,  H.  L.,  279 
Love.  Alfred  H.,  256 
Lucas,  Robert,  27 
Lynch,  John  It.,  209 
Lyon,  James,  147 

Macheu,  Willis  B..  160 

Macon,  Nathaniel,  22 

Madison,  James,  12,  13,  14,  15,  76, 

91.  261 

Maguire,  Matthew.  322 
Mallette,    J.    IL,    401 
Malloney,  Joseph  F.,  369,  370,  379 
Mangum,  Willie  P.,  35.  36,  :;s 
Manley,  Joseph  H.,  208 
Marcy,  William  L.,  48,  74 
Marsh,  Ephraim,  100 
Marshall,  John,  17 
Martin,  John  A.,  185 
Mason,  John  T.,  59 
Matchett,  Charles  H.,  285,  322,  327 
Matthews,  Claude,  291 
Matthews,  Stanley,  144 
Msit.vr,  Gilbert  De  La.  190 
Maynard,  Horace,  186 
McClellan,  George  B.,  121,  128.  129 
McClellan,  George  B.    (2d),  383 
McClernand,  John  A.,  162 
McComas,  Louis  E.,  208 
McCormlck,  R.  C.,  168 

McCreary.  ,  186 

McDonald,  Joseph  E.,  202 

McKay,  James  J.,  59 

McKlnley.    William,   Jr..   238,   269, 

298,  326.  328.  329.  3.°,9,  341,  340, 

365.    366,    367,    375,    378,    380, 

381,   398.    399,   400 
McLean,  John,  31,  30,  63,  97,  100, 

112.  116 

McLean,  Joseph  R.,  291,  292 
Mr-Mlr-hnH,  Morton.  149 
McPhcrson,  Edward,  111,  168 


Metcalf,  Henry  B.,  362,  363 

Miles,  Nelson  A.,  383 

Miller,  Samuel  F.,  238 

Milton,  John,  3 

Minims,  A.  L.,  305 

Miner,  Rev.  Dr.,  193 

Mitchell,  John  L.,  261 

Monroe,  James,  13,  16,  17,  18,  19, 

313 

Moore,  A.  L.,  320 
Morehead,  John  M.,  62 
Morgan,  Edwin  D.,  96,  111,  149 
Morris,  Thomas,  51 
Morrison.  William  R.,  183,  261 
Morse,  Allen  B.,  261 
Morton,  Levl  P.,  237,  238,  258,  259, 

298,  299 

Morton,  Oliver  P.,  169 
N'ewlands,  Frank  G..  310,  389 
Nicholson,    Samuel    T.,    374,    375 
Norton,   S.  F.,  248,  3<Xi,  354 
Norton,  ,  280 

O' Conor,  Charles,  147,  154,  159 
Ogden,  William  B.,   251 
Olney,    Richard,    383 
Osborn,  Wm.  M.,  298 
Owens.  William  C..  260 

Packer,  Asa,  132 

Page,  Maun,  280,  305 

Palmer,    John    M.,    131,    145,    153, 

160,  314,  327 
Park,  Milton,  354 
Parker,  Alton  B.,   382,  383 
Parker,  J.  A.,  35:$,  354 
Parker,  Joel,  132,  153,  154,  163 
Patrick,  A.  W.,  331 
Patterson,  Thomas  M.,  347 
Pattison,  Robert  E.,  2G1,  291,  292, 

383 

Payne,  Henry  B.,  183 
Peek,  W.  L.,  353 

Pendleton.    George    II.,    121,    122, 
129,  132 

'ennoyer,  Sylvester,  291 

•helps,  John  S.,  122 

•helps,  William  W.,  238 

•hilllps,  Wendell,  153 

•lorce,  E.  L.,  169 

•lerce.  Franklin,  74,  84,  85,  87,  94, 

106 

Pillow,  Gideon  J.,  75 
Pinckney,  Charles  C.,  7,  8,  9,  10, 

11,  12,  13 

Pinckney,  Thomas.  6,  7 
I M  inner,    Wm.,    19 
Poll:.  James  K.,  45,  47,  56,  57,  61 

62 

Polk,  Trustee,  88 
Pomr-roy,  Samuel  V.,  137.  217 
I'omnroy,  Theodore  M.,  168 
I  •••well,  Lazarus  W.,  122 
Prince,   F.   O.,   U«,    121,   131,   143, 
162,  182,  201 


(21) 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Quay,  M.  S.,  237,  298 
Quitman,  John  A.,  59,  88 

Randall,  Samuel  J.,  183,  202 

Randolph,  ,  23 

Randolph,  Thomas  J.,  143 
Raynor,  Kenneth,  100 
Reed,  Thomas  B.,  269,  298,  299 
Reeder,  Andrew  H.,  112 
Reid,  Whltelaw,  269,  288 
Ilemuiel,  Valentine,  369 
Richardson,  James  D.,  330 
Riugdale,  P.  M.,  347 

Riuggold.  ,  65 

Ritter,  Ell,  274 

Rives,  William  C.,  34,  110 

Rodney,  Daniel,  19 

Roosevelt,      Theodore,    339,      340, 

380.   381,   303,  398,   399 
Root,  Elihu,  393 
Rosecraus.  William  S.,  202 
Ross,  James,  17 
Rush,  Richard,  19,  24,  26 
Rusk,  Jeremiah  M.,  238 
Rusk,  T.  J.,  75,  88 
Russell,  John.  157 
Russell,  William  E.,  261,  291 
Rutledge,  John,  3 
Ryuders,  T.  P.,  248 

Sabin,  Dv/ight  M.,  185 

Sanford,  Nathan,  22 

Satterly,  W.  W.,  274 

Schell,  Augustus,  143 

Schurz,  Carl,  136,  144 

Scott,  Wiufleld,  43,  63,  77,  78,  84,  83 

Scott,  ,  236 

Scoville,  John  M.,  145 

Seitz,  John.  248 

Sergeant,  John,  28,  30,  33,  50 

Settle,  Thomas,  149,  186 

Sewall,  Arthur,  290,  291,  292,  305, 

310,  313,  B28 

Seward,  William  H.,  97,  112 
Seymour,    Horatio,    121,    131,    132, 

140,  141,  183 

Sharkey,  William  L.,  116 
Sheerin,  Simon  P.,  232,  260 
Sheridan,  Phil.,  186,  239 
Sherman,  John,  186,  210,  238 
Sherman,  William  T.,  210 
Slbley,  Joseph  C..  292 
Skinner,  Harry,  305 
Smalley,  David  A.,  87 
Smith,  Gerritt,  70 
Smith,  Green  Clay,  175,  179 
Smith,  John  C.,  30 
Smith,  John  Walter,  331 
Smith,  William  (of  S.  Car.),  26 
Smith,  William  (of  Alabama),  38 
Southgate,  James  H.,  320 
Speed,  James,  137 
Spencer,  Ambrose,  49 
Spencer,  John  C.,  30 
Stanford,  Leland,  280 


Stephenson,  John  W.,  144 

Stevens,  A.  A.,  318 

Stevenson,  Adlai  E..  260,  261,  288, 

289,    291,    330,    331,    356,    380 
Stevenson,  Andrew,  34,  58 
Stevenson,  John  W.,  182 
Stewart,  Commodore,  47,  48 
Stewart,  G.  T.,  175,  274 
Stewart,  Oliver  W.,  318,  362,  404 
St.    John,   John   P.,   219,   229,   245, 

274 

St.  John,  William  P.,  310 
Stockton,  Richard,  19 
Stow,  Marietta  L,.,  226 
Strange,  Robert,  75 
Streeter,  Alson  J.,  223,  248,  257 
Sunnier,  Charles,  97 
Swallow,  Silas   C.,   363,   405 

Taggart,   Thomas,   382 
Tate,  James  A.,  363,  404 
Taylor,  Zachary,  03,  64,  69,  71,  72 
Tazewell.  Littleton  W.,  45 
Telfair,  Edward,  3 
Teller.  Henry  M.,  291,  292,  356 
Terrell,  Ren.  S.,  280 
Thomas,  Charles  S.,  330 
Thomas,  Walter  F.,  238 
ThoniDson,  A.  M.,  193.  194 
Thompson,    R.    S.,    374,    375 
Thurman,  Allen  G.,  163,  183,  202 

232,  258 

Thurstou.  John  M.,  237.  298,  299 
Tibbies,  Thomas  H.,  401 
Tilden,    Samuel    J.,   162,   163,   179. 

180,  183,  184,  202,  208 
Tillnmn,  Benjamin  R.,  291 
Tillotson.  D.  C.,  356 
Tlpton,  Thomas  W.,  145 
Tod,  Governor.  107 
Tompkins.  Daniel  D.,  16,  17,  18,  19 
Toucey,   Isaac,   106 
Towne,  Charles  A.,  331,  347,  348, 

383 

Tree,  Lambert,  261 
Trevellick,  Richard.  190 
Trumbull.  Lyman.  145 
Turpie,  David,  291 
Tyler,  John  (Fla.),  214 
Tyler,   John   (Va.),   36,   38,   42,   43, 

45,  49 

Vallandigham,  C.  L.,  121 

Van  Bureu.  Martin,  22,  27,  28,  30, 

33,  34,  36,  37,  38,  40,  44,  45,  47, 

66,  71 

Vllas,  William  F.,  201 
Voorhees,  Daniel  W.,  122 

Wade,  Benjamin  F.,  137 
Waitt,  William  S.,  70 
Wakefleld.  W.  H.  T.,  251 
Walker,  Gilbert  C.,  145 
Walker,  James  A.,  299 
Walker,  James  B.,  177 


(22) 


INDEX  OF  NAMES. 


Walker,  Percey,  100 
Wall,   Edward   C.,   383 
Walsh,  Charles  A.,  290,  330 
Ward,  John  B.,  87 
Ward,  Marcus  L.,  123 
Ward  well,  William  T..  362 
Washburne,  E.  B.,  18G 
Washington,  George,  2,  3,  4.  5.  6, 

7,  19,  37,  51,  61,  65,  78,  95,  97, 

313,  348 

Watkiiis,  William,  322 
Watson,   Thomas  E.,  305,  328,  401 
Watterson,  Henry,  162,  261 
Weaver,  James  B..   191,  198,   214, 

279,  280,  287,  288 
Webster,  Daniel,  23,  35,  30,  38,  G3, 

78 

Weller,  John  B.,  75 
Weller,  L.  II.,  401 
West,   Alanson  M.,   154,  191,   214, 

215,  223.  224 
Wheeler,  William  A.,  168,  169,  173, 

180,  181 
White.  Hugh  L.,  36,  38 


White,  S.  M.,  232,  290,  292 
Whitney,  William  C.,  261 
Wilkins,  William,  33 
Williams,  George  F.,  292 
Williams,  John  R.,  292 
Williams,  John  Sharp,  382,  383 
Williams,  Samuel  W.,  401 
Wilmot,  David.  Ill 
Wilson,  Henry,   80,   137,  149,  152, 

160,  161 

Wilson.  William  L.,  260 
Wliidom,  William,  186,  365 
Wing,  Simon,  285,  287 
Wirt,  William,  30,  33 
Wolcott,  Edward  O.,  3:'.9 
Wolfenbarger,  A.  G.,  404 
Woodbury,  Levi,  47,  48.  58 
Woodford,  Stewart  L.,  186 
Woodson,   Urey.    382 
Woolley,    John    G.,    302,    375,    37JJ 
Worth,  W.  J.,  58 
Wright,  Heudriek  B.,  47,  1» 
Wright,  Silas,  48 

Young,  Samuel,  66 


Subject  Index. 


Democratic  Platforms. 

(See  also  Subject  Index  to  Liberal-Republican  Platform.) 


Admission  of  Territories,  236,  267, 
296,  337,  390 

Alaska  and  Porto  Uico,  337,  390 
Alaska,  296,  297,  338,  390 
Alliances,  205,  2(55.  338 
Vmendments  to  Constitution,  163 
\mnesty  for  political  offenses,  132 
Arbitration     between     labor     and 

capital,  295,  337 
Army,  organization  of.  334 

reduction   of,    133,   391 
Ballot,  free,  184,  206 
Bank  notes,  opposition  to,  35,  294, 

33G 
Bank,  United  Stales,  41,  90 

defeat  of  national,  62     . 

no  power  to  charter  national,  75, 

Banks,  tax  on  state,  265 
against  national,  75,  89,  291 
separating    government    funds 
from,  75.  89 

Blacklist,  337 

Bimetallism.    See  Gold  and  Silver 

Bonds,  294 

Burliugame  Treaty,  184 

Canal,   Isthmian,  93,  389 
Nicaragua,  267,  337 

Capital  and  labor,  385 

Centralization,  164.  1&3,  292 

Change    of    administration    neces- 
sary, 167,  203.  268 

Chase,  Salmon  P.,  thanks  of  con- 
vention of  1868,  136 

Chinese,    the,    166.    184,    207,    234, 
266,  338 

Church  and  State,  163,  183,  206 

Citizenship,  42,  90,  390 
resisting    abridgment    of    privi- 
lege of,  76 

Civil  service.    See  Reform 

Class  legislation,  387 

Combines,   388 

Compromise  measures  relating  to 
slavery,  91,  92 

Constitutional   guarantees,   385 

Constitutional  powers,  41,  89 

Corporations.    See  Monopolies 


Corporate  interference  in   govern- 
ment, 335 

Cuba,  acquisition  of,  109,  111 
sympathy  with,  297 
pledge  to,  332 
Currency,  35,  133,  265 
Republican  bill  of  1900,  336 
resumption   of   specie   payments, 

164,  165 

Debt,  assumption  of  state,  41 
extinction  of  public,   59,   75,  89, 

133 

Deposits,    separation .  of    govern- 
ment from  banks,  42,  75.  89 
Economy,  duty  of  the  government, 

41,  59,  75,  296,  386 
in  conducting  public  affairs,   89, 

133 

public,  164 

of  Democratic  House,  167 
of  Democratic  Congress,  185 
Education.    See  Sc/ioofs 
Elections,  Federal  interference  in. 
122,  184,  203 
Federal  control  of,  262 
Election,   of   Senators,   337,   390 
Endorsement,      administration     of 

James  K.  Polk,  62 
administration        of        Franklin 

Pierce,  94 

administration  of  Andrew  John- 
son. 135 
of    President    Cleveland's    tariff 

message,  233 

administration  of  G rover  Cleve- 
land, 233 
Kdu.il  rights,  34,  133,  163,  202,  205, 

234 

Executive  usurpation,   386 
Exemption  from  trial  by  jury,  or, 
of  the  operation  of  the  law,  35 
Expansion,  333 
Exposition,     World's     Columbian, 

267 

Filipinos  and  Cubans,  387 
Force  Bill,  206,  262 
Foreign  policy,  207,  234,  265,  297 


(24) 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Foreign   relations   with   sister   re 

publics,  205 
with  neighbors,  265 
France,   congratulations  to  repub- 
lic of,  61 

Fraud  of  1876-77,  184,  203,  208 
Free  list,  335 
Free  ships,  184 

Free  silver.    See  Gold  and  Silver 
Free  trade,  62,  93 
Freedmen's  Bureau,  133 
Fugitive   Slave  Law,   76,   91,   109, 

111 
Funds,   separation  of  government 

from  banks,  75,  89 
Gold   and   silver  as   currency,   35, 

183,  205,  383,  384 
free  coinage,  16  to  1,  293,  336 
resumption  of  specie  payments, 

164 

Sherman  act  of  1890,  264 
standard  money  of  the  country, 

265,  383,   384 
Gold  Democrats,  314 
Government  deposits.    See  Deposit* 
Hay-Pauncefote  treaty,  337 
Home  rule,  183,  206,  262,  268,  2!)6 

sympathy  with  Irish  in  struggle 

for,  236 

Homestead  Laws,  135,  206,  233 
Immigration,    166,    184,    207,    234, 

266,  295,  338 
Imperialism,  333,  387 
Income  tax,  294 

Injunction,    government    by,    296, 

337 

Institutions  Imperilled,  our,  339 
Internal  Improvements,  41,  89,  90, 

207,  266,  297 
Interstate  Commerce  Commission, 

•_'!).-,.  336,  389 
Irrigation,  389 
Issue,  the  paramount,  333 
Johnson,  Andrew,  endorsement  of 

administration,  135 
Labor.  136,  185,  206,  207,  234,  2G8, 
20.1.   385 

a  Department  of,  337 
Land,  ownership  of,  42,  90,  135 

arid,    338,    389 

waste  of  public,  165 

for  actual  settlers.  185 

giving  away  of,  203 

restoration  of,  200.  233,  264 

for  free  homes,  297 
Laws,  limitations  of,  35 

sumptuary,    183,   206,   268 
Legislation,    resistance    to    exclu- 
sive, 61 

exclusive,  77,  92 

sectional,  89 

McKlnley  Bill.    See  Tariff 
Merchant   marine,   390 
Mexico.  00,  77 
Militarism,  opposed,  334 


Military  arrest,  123 
Monopolies,  legislative,  35 
resistance  to,  61,  77,  92,  184,  206, 

235,    335,    388 
Monroe    Doctrine,    93,    297,    334, 

391 

Moral  element  In  form  of  govern- 
ment, 48,  59,  88 
Mormanism,    390 
National  Guard,  the,  334 
Navy,  reduction  of,  133 
money  squandered  to  create,  203 
maintenance  of,  206 
Newland's  irrigation  act,  389 
Nicaraguan  canal,  267,  337 
Oklahoma,   390 
Oregon,  49 
Origin  and  powers  of  government, 

331 

Panama  canal,  389 
Paper  money,  opposition  to,  35 

convertible.  183 
Paramount  issue,  the,  333 
Passports,  300 
Pensions,   204,   205,  234,  266,   296, 

337,  391 

Philippines,  the  332,  387 
Pierce,   Franklin,    endorsement  of 

administration,  94 
Pledge  to  Cuba,  332 
Pledges  redeemed,  233 
Polk,    James   K.,    endorsement   of 

administration,  62 
Polygamy,  390 

Popular  election,  of  Senators,  337 
Porto  Rico,  332,  338 
Power,  of  Federal  government  lim- 
ited, 88,  89 
not  granted  by  the  Constitution. 

122 

origin  of,  331 

subordination  of  military  to  civ- 
il, 133,  103,  184 
Preamble,  132,  292,  331 
Property  rights,  110,  200 
Public  lands,  48,  60,   89.  135,  105, 

203,  200,  2G4,  2!>0,  833 
Public  office   a  public   trust,   107. 

265 

Race  question,  392 
Railroad.    See  Roads 
Reciprocity,   204,   391 
Reconstruction  acts,  135 
Reform,  163.  104 
of   tariff.   62,   105,  201,   205,    I'.".:.. 

203.  294 

of  abuses  of  administration,  i:>3 
of  currency,  10-4 
of  taxation,  165 
in  expenditure*,  165 

in  waste  of  public  lands.  10.~> 
of    civil    service,    108,    184,    200, 

234,   205,    297,    "!>1 
change  of  party  necessary  to  ef- 
fect, 167 


(26) 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Religious  liberty,  90,  92,  163,  183, 

293 

Repeal,  right  of,  35 
Republican     party,     criticism    of, 
134,  1(56,  167,  203,  208,  234,  202, 
295,  335,  338 
administration,  392 
Resolutions,  forwarded  to  France, 

61 

Kentucky,  76,  91 
Virginia,  76,  91 
Resumption,  164 
Revenue,  89 

internal,  133,  205 

Rights  of  American  citizens  at 
home  and  abroad,  108,  111,  133. 
207 

of  the  people,  234 
Roads,  military  and  postal,  94 
Pacific  rail,  108,  111,  296 
protection  of  employees  of  rail, 

268 

Schools,  public,  166,  183,  206,  267 
Secret  societies,  opposition  to  po- 
litical, 90 

Sectionalism,  89,  166 
Senators,  popular  election  of,  337, 

3!)0 

Shipping.  American,  208,  390 
Silver,  35,  183,  20o,  264,  293,  336 
Slavery,  41,  76,  90,  91,  92 
compromise     measures     relating 

to,  76 

differences  In  party  over,  108 

Breckinridge  platform  on,  110 

as  settled  by  the  war,  132 

Soldiers  and  Sailors,  123,  135,  168 

Statehood,  132,  236,  267,  296,  337, 

390 
State  rights,  41,  76,  91,  110,  122, 

132,  135,  202,  296 
Subsidies,  opposition  to,  338 

ship,  390 
Suffrage,    state    right    to   control, 

135 

Surplus,  235 

Supreme  court,  to  abide  by  decis- 
ions of,  108,  109 


Supreme  court — Continued. 
thanks  to  Chief  Justice  of,  136 
income  tax  decision,  295 
Sweating  system,  268 
Sympathy   with   the   workingmen, 

136 
for    those    struggling   for    home 

rule,  236 

for  the  oppressed,  266 
for  Cuba,  297 
for  the  Boers,  338 
Tariff,  41,  93   (see  also  Reform), 

387 

of  1842,  62 
of  1846,  62 

as  a  remedy  for  trusts,  335 
Dingley  law,  336 
for  revenue  with  incidental  pro- 
tection, 133 
for  revenue  only,  165,   183,  203, 

294 

reduction,  233,  235 
McKinley  law,  263,  294 
Taxation,  equality  of,  133 
reform  of,  165,  234 
reduction    of    unnecessary    war, 

204,  339 

of  Porto  Rico,  332 
on  state  banks,  265 
income,  294 
Texas,  49,  60 

Territories.    See  Admission 
Third  term,  297 
Tilden,  Samuel  J.,  184,  208 
Treaty,  Hay-Pauncefote,  337 
Trusts,    235,    264,    295,    334,    386, 

388 
Union,  adherence  to,  122 

maintenance  of,  233 
Usurpation,  executive,  386 
Vested  rights,  opposition  to,  35 
Veto  power,  49,  60,  90 
War,  with  Mexico.  60,  77 
of  Secession,  122 
accepting  results  of  civil,  163 
Spanish,  333 
South  African,  338 
Waterways,  93,  207,  266,  267,  297, 
385 


Republican  Platforms. 


Achievements,  394 
Admission  of  Territories,  242,  273 
304,  345 

of  Kansas.  97,  99,  115 

of  South  Dakota,  242 
Alaska,   304,   400 
Alien  ownership  of  land,  213    241 
Alliances,  213,  271 
Amendments  to  the  Constitution 

on  slavery,  125 

on  enforcement  of,  150,  170 


Amendments  to  the  Constitution- 
Continued. 

forbidding  application  of  public 
funds     to     sectarian     schools, 
etc..  171,  188 
nullification  of,  344 
Amnesty,  152 

Appointments.  171,  213,  241.  273 
Arbitration,   international,  212 
national,   304,   398 
The  Hague  conference,  346 


(26) 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Arid  Innda.    See  Public  Lands 
Armenia,  302 

Army.  See  also  Soldiers  and  Sail- 
ors, 243 

Ballot,  free.  190.  214.  239,  271,  304 
Boundary,  Alaskan,  40O 
Bimetallism.    See  Gold  and  Silver 
Brazil,  239 
Canal,  isthmian,  345 

Nicaragua,  244,  272,  302 
China,  398,  400 
Chinese  labor,  308 
Church  and  State.    See    Religious 

Liberty 
Citizenship,   naturalized,  115,  138, 

151,  172,  212,  398 
Civil  Service.    See  Reform 
Coal    strike,    399 
Combinations,   399 

Commerce,  for  Department  of,  345 
Compromise,  Missouri,  97 
Constitution  of  U.  S.,  98.  150,  188 
Consular     system,     reorganlzatior 

of,  345 

Contract  Labor.    See  Labor 
Corporations.    See  Monopolies 
Cuba,  Ostend  manifesto,  99 

Independence  of,  303,  347 
Currency,  150,  187,  301,  342 

resumption  of  specie  payments, 

152.  171 

gold  and  silver,  212,  270,  342 
gold  standard,  302.  342 
Debt,  public,  126,  137,  138,  150, 152 
decrease  of,  187 
Increase  of,  299 

Democratic  Party,  arraignment  of, 
99,  172,  189,  211,  242,  243,  244, 
299 

principles  a  menace  to  prosper- 
ity, 341 
Disabilities,   removal  of   political, 

139 
Disfranchlsement    of    the    negro, 

344,  398 

Economy,  114,  120,  138 
Education.  See  Schools 
Eight-hour  law.  See  Hours  of 

labor 
Election  Frauds  In  the  South,  152, 

214.  239,  271 
Elective    franchise,    limitation    of, 

398 

Emancipation.    See  Slavery 
Endorsement  of  administration  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  125,  152,  173 
of  Ulysses  8.  Grant,  150 
of  Rutherford.  B.  Hayes,  189 
of  James  A.  Garfleld,  211 
of  Chester  A.  Arthur,  211 
of  Benjamin  Harrison,  273 
of   William    McKinley,   341,    300 


Endorsement  of  Administration— 
Continued. 

of  Theodore  Roosevelt,  399 
Equal   rights,   125,    137,    139,    150, 

170,  214 
for  women,  172 

Exposition,  World's  Columbian,  273 
Finance.    See  Currency 
Fisheries,  protection  of,  244,  271 
Foreign  policy,  126,  150,  212,  213, 
243,  271,  302,  346,  398,  399,  400 
Foreign  trade,  187,  341 
Free  Coinage.    See  Gold  and  Silver 
Free  Schools,  242.    See  also  Schools 
Gold  and  silver,  for  International 

standard,  212,  271 
bimetallism,  242 
for  parity  of  value,  270 
free   coinage  of   silver  opposed, 

342 

Gold  standard,  the,  302,  342,  397 
Hawaiian  Islands,  302,  346 
Home  rule,  273 
for  Ireland,  239 
in  territories,  241,  345 
Homestead    Laws,    115,    241,    273, 

304,  344 

Hours  of  labor,  212 
Immigration,    126,    139,    151,    172, 

271,  303,  343 

Chinese,   189,   212,   240,  308 
Interest,  rates  of,  342 
Islands,  302,  303,  346 
Johnson,     Andrew,     Impeachment 

of,  138 
Kansas    (see    also    Admission    of 

Territories),  98,  114 
Kishlneff  massacre,  400 
Labor,  151,  171,  211,  212,  343,  398 
foreign  contract,  212.  240,  271 
protection  of  employees,  271,  303 
benefits   of   protective  tariff   to, 

300 

Labor  and  capital,  151,  399 
Land.    See  Public  Lands 
Lecompton     Constitution,     opposi- 
tion to,  114 
Lynching,  304 
Markets,  new,  345 
Merchant  marine,    397 
Monnonlsm.    See  Polygamy 
Monopolies,  241,  272,   342 
Monroe    Doctrine,    126,    243,    271, 

302,  340 

Naturalization.    See  Citizenship 
Navy,  213,  243,   271,  303,  397 
Nicaragua  Canal,  244,  272,  302 
Offices,  public,  171,  213 
Ostend  Manifesto,  the,  99 
Outrages,  In  the  South,  271 

In  Armenia,  302 
Pacific  railroad.    See  Roads 
Panama  canal,  400 


(27) 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Passports,  398 

Patronage.    See   Offices;    also,   Re- 

form 

Peace,  The  Hague  conference,  346 
Pensions,    125,    139,    151   187,    188, 

213,  245,  302,  344,  398 
Philippine  Islands,  346 
Polygamy,    to    prohibit,    98,    172, 

188,  213,  242 

Postage,  reduction  of,  151, 242, 272 
franking  privilege,  151 
free  delivery  service,  272,  344 
Power    of    Congress    to    prohibit 

polygamy  and  slavery,  98 
to   improve  rivers   and   harbors, 

99 
Preamble,   97,    113,  137,   149,   170, 

187,  239,  270,  299,  340 
Promises,  of  prosperity  redeemed, 

340 

Protection  of  citizens,  345 
Public    lands,    151,    171,    188,   213, 

241,  273,  344 
Race  question,  the,  344 
Railroads,  Pacific,  99,  115,  126,  150 
increase  of,  187 
employees  of,  271 
regulation  of  charges  of,  212 
Rebellion.    See  Secession 
Reciprocity,  triumph  of,  270 
renewal  and  extension  of,  300 
favored,  343 
Reconstruction,  137 
Reform  of  Civil  Service,  150,  190, 

212,  244,  272,  303,  344,  398 
Religious  liberty,  188,  272 
Republican      party,      organization 

and  perpetuation  of.  113 
Repudiation,  condemned,  137,  138, 

152 
Revenue,  151,  171,  211 

internal,  240 
Rivers  and  Harbors,  Improvement 

of,  99,  115 
Roads,  public,  344 
Samoa,  346 

Schools,  public,  171,  188,  242,  272 
Secession,  113,  124,  149,  152 
Sectarian   schools,   forbidding   ap- 
plication   of    public    funds    to, 

171,  188 

Sectionalism,  114,  172 
Shipping.  American.  152,  213,  243, 

271,  301,  343,  397 
Silver.    See  Gold  and  Silver 
Slavery,  114,  115,  124,  187 
opposition  to  extension  of,  97 
denial  of  legal  existence  to,  98 


Slavery — Continued. 
prohibition  of,  98 
abolition  of  accomplished,  149 
abolition  in  Brazil,  239 
Soldiers     and     Sailors     (see     also 
Army),  125,  139,  151,  172,  213, 
273,  344 

Solid  South,  the,  172,  190 
Sound  money.    See  Currency 
Sovereignty,    in    new   possessions, 

346 

Specie  payments,  171,  301 
Spoils  system.    See    Offices;    also, 

Reform 

Statehood,  241,  345 
State  rights,  113,  188 
Strike,  coal,  399 
Suffrage,  137,  239 
Sympathy  for  the  oppressed,  139, 

272 

for  all  who  strive  for  liberty,  150 
for  the  cause  of  Home  Rule  in 

Ireland,  272 

for  the  persecuted  Jews  in  Rus- 
sia, 272 

for  temperance,  273,  304 
with  the  Armenians,  302 
with  the  Cubans,  303 
Tariff,  to  correct  the  inequalities 

of,  211 
protective,     115,    211,    240,    270, 

300,  301,  396 
on  wool,  211,  240,  301 
act  of  1890,  270 
on  sugar,  301 
protective  policy  reaffirmed.  343, 

396 

reduction  of  war,  345 
Taxation,    equalization  and   reduc- 
tion of,  138 
reduction  of  war,  345 
Territories    (see    also    Admission), 

172,  213,  241,  273,  304,  345 
Trade,  foreign,  187 

growth  of  export,  341 
Treaty,  The  Hague,  346 

of  Paris,  346 
Tribute   to   great    leaders    of    the 

party,  239 

Trusts,  241,  272,  342 
Union,    maintenance    of,    97,    113, 

124,  170,  188,  214 
War,  Spanish,  341 

South  African,  346 
Waterways,  99,  244,  272,  302 
Woman's  rights,  152,  172,  304 
Women,  services  of,  346 
Wool,  protection  on.    See  Tariff 


(28) 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Abolition  Party,  Liberty-Abolitionist,  Free-Soil,  and 
Free-Soil  Democratic  Platforms. 


Aim  of  the  party,  Free  Democrat- 
ic, 83 

Arbitration,  83 

Brotherhood,  human,  51 

Citizenship,  82 

Compromise  measures,  81 

Constitution  of  the  U.  S.,  what  it 

is,  54 

Third  clause,  2d  section,  4th  ar- 
ticle, void,  applied  to  fugitive 
slaves,  55 
limitations  of,  67 
powers  derived  from,  81 
powers  denied  by,  81 

Debt,  payment  of  national,  69 
assumption    of    state    debt     of 
Texas,  81 

Equal  rights,  52 

Election   of   civil    officers    by    the 
people,  82 

Free  soil  a  natural  right,  82 

Fugitive  slave  act,  54,  82,  83 
repeal  demanded,  81 

Funds,  separation  of  government,  82 

Hayti,  83 

Homestead  law  recommended,  69 

Immigration,  82 

Imprisonment  of  colored  seamen,  83 

Laws,  modification  of  human,  81 

Offices,  82 

Organization,    as    an    independent 
party  necessary,  44 

Postage,  69,  82 

Powers  of  Government,  Just  deri- 
vation of,  80 
how  they  should  be  construed,  81 


Preamble,  66,  80 

Public  lands,  82 

Revenue,  82 

River   and    harbor   improvements, 

69,  82 

Slave  labor  and  public  works,  54 
Slave  power,  aggression  of,  66 

independence  of,  67 

to  rescue  government  from,  67 

answer  to  demands  of,  81 
Slavery,  52 

to  be  abolished  by  state  author- 
ity, 52 

voluntary  abolition  of,  52 

protection  and  extension  of,  53 

only  state  authority  for,  53 

unconstitutional,  53 

by  military  force,  55 

a  state  institution,  67 

proviso  of  Jefferson,  67 

limitation  of,  67 

preventing  extension  of,  68 

responsibility     for     continuance 
of,  68 

absence  of  power  to  create,  68 

abolition  demanded,  81 

separation    of    general    govern- 
ment from,  82 
Slaves,  fugitive,  53,  54,  82 

transportation  of,  55 
Texas,  81 

Union,  the,  maintenance  of,  80 
Voting,     a    moral     and     religious 
duty,  54 

for  civil  officers,  82 


Liberal  Republican  Platform. 


Amendments  to  the  Constitution, 
13th,  14th,  and  15th,  146 

Amnesty,  146 

Civil  authority,  supremacy  over 
military,  146 

Civil  Service,  146 

Currency,  resumption  of  specie 
payment,  147 

Disabilities,  removal  of  all  politi- 
cal, 146 

Equal  rights,  146 

Emancipation,  146 

Enfranchisement,  146 


Foreign  policy,  147 

Land,  147 

Pensions,  146 

Public  credit,  maintenance  of,  147 

Public  Lands,  147 

Re-eliglblllty  of  the  President,  140 

Reform  of  civil  service,  146 

Resumption  of  specie  payment,  147 

Self-government,  local  and  state, 146 

Soldiers  and  Sailors,  147 

Tariff,  the,  146 

Taxation,  146 

Union,  maintenance  of,  146 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


National  Republican  and  Whig-  Platforms. 


Civil  service  reform,  29 

Colonial  trade,  30 

Economy  of  public  service,  50 

Endorsement  of  administration  of 
Millard  Fillmore,  95,  96 

Foreign  policy,  78,  79 

Foreign  power,  advice  of,  30 

Fugitive  Slave  Law,  79 

Geographical  parties,  danger  of, 
95 

Great  Britain,  arrangement  rela- 
tive to  colonial  trade,  30 

Internal  Improvements,  29,  79 

Jackson,  Andrew,  criticism  of,  29 

Lands,  50 

Mission,  our  as  a  republic,  79 


Powers    of    the    national    govern 
ment,  78 

of  state  governments,  78 
Protection  of  Industries,  29,  50 
Public  lands,  sales  of,  50 
Re-eligibility  of  the  President,  50 
Removal  of  public  officers,  29 
Republic,  preservation  of,  29 

mission  of,  79 
Revenue,  79 
Rivers  and  Harbors,   improvement 

of,  79 

Senate,  Independence  of,  29 
Spoils  system,  29 

Supreme  court,  preservation  of,  2IJ 
Tariff,  protective,  29,  50,  79 
Union,  preservation  of,  95 


Prohibition  Platforms. 


Advantages  of  prohibition,  196 
Alcoholic    drinks.    See     Intemper- 
ance 

Alien  ownership  of  land,  276 
Amendments  to  constitution,  218 
Arbitration,      international,      177, 

218,  407 

national,  247,  276 
for  labor  troubles,  247 
Ballot  (see  also  Suffrage),  197,  223, 

248 

Bible,  the,  176,  197,  218 
Call,  to  moral  and  Christian  citi- 
zenship, 368 
Canteen,  army,  366 
Capital  and  Labor,  158,  222 
Charters   of   secret   lodges   should 

be  withdrawn,  218 
Church  and  State,  176 
Civil  equality,  218 
Civil   Service,   158,   177,   407 
Class  legislation,  176 
Combinations,    406 
Compromise,  in  legislation,  364 
Corporations,  public,  276 
Currency,  158,  177,  218,  221,  275 
Democratic  party,  arraignment  of, 

196,  197,  220,  246,  277 
Divorce  laws,  407 
Education,  compulsory,  176 
Exclusion  of  Immigrants,  221 
Economy  in  government  expenses, 

177 

Education.    See  Schools 
Exposition,     World's     Columbian, 

278 
Finance,  158,  177,  221,  275,  364 


Gambling,  176 

Gold  standard,  158 

Gold  and  sliver,  158,  177,  275 

Governmental  control  of  railroads, 
telegraphs,  etc.,  276 

Immigration,    158,    177,    221,    248, 
276 

Initiative  and  referendum,  406 

Intemperance,  effect  of  on  the  hu- 
man body,  194 
effect  In  the  home,  194 
effect  of  legalization  of  traffic  in, 

194,  219 

effect    on    the    community,    195, 

222 

effect  on  the  state,  195,  222 
Internal  revenue  system.  240 
Labor,  158,  218,  222,  247 
Land.    See  Public  Lands 
Laws,  marriage,  247 
immigration,  248 
mob,  276 

in  dependencies,  406 
Legal    prohibition    of    sale    of    in- 
toxicating drinks,  158,  176,  195, 
222,  246,  275,  319 
Liquor  policy  in  new  possessions, 

366 
Liquor  traffic,  legal  protection  of, 

195,  275 

legal  support  of,  197 

a  dishonor  to  civilization,  157 

prohibition  necessary  for  supres- 

sion  of,  158 
prohibition  by   law   and  treaty, 

176,  222,  275 
should  be  made  criminal,  246 


(30) 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Liquor  Traffic — Continued. 
license  of,  246 
suppression  by  a  national  party, 

319 
In   the  Philippines,    In  Cuba,  In 

Porto  Rico,  866,  367 
In  Alaska  and  Hawaii,  367 
Liquor  vote,  the,  158,  221,  277 
Lotteries,  176 
Marriage  laws,  247 
McKinley,     President,     arraigned, 

365 

Monopolies,  158,  247,  364,  406 
National  issues,  277 
National    issue,    prohibition    as   a, 

248,  319 

prohibition  as  a  dominant,  278 
Naturalization,  276 
Paper  money,  177,  221,  275 
Parties,  only  two  real,  368 
Party,  definition  of,  363 
Patent  laws,  218 
Pensions,  221,  277 
Polygamy,  176,  218,  247,  407 
Popular   vote   should   elect   presi- 
dent   and    vice-president,    158, 
218 

civil  officers,  177,  221 
Postage,  158,  176 
Preamble,   157,  175,   194,  219,  275, 

319,  363 

Principles,  declaration  of,  157,  319 
Prison  reform,  177 
Prohibition,    a    political    issue   of 

first  Importance,  195,  319 
a    dominant    issue    In    national 

politics,  248,  278 
by     constitutional     amendment, 

246 

the  most  important  party  prin- 
ciple, 363 

the  overwhelming  issue,  365 
the  paramount  issue,  368 


Public  lands,  176,  218,  221,  247,  276 

Public     office,     qualifications     for 
holding,  158,  221 

Qualifications  for   suffrage,   406 

Reform,  221 
of  labor,  158,  247 
of  prisons  and  criminals,  177 
of  drink-traffic,  222 
of  civil  service,  158,  177,  247 

Religious  Liberty,  157,  176 

Republican  party,  arraignment  of, 
196,  218,  220,  246,  277 

Revenue,  221,  246 
compensating    effects    of    other, 

197 

should  be  raised  by  what  people 
possess,  not  on  what  they  con- 
sume, 276 

Sabbath,  the,  176,  218,  247,  276 

Salaries,  158,  177 

Schools,  public,  158,  176,  277 

Secret  societies,  218 

Senators,  popular  election  of,  406 

Silver,  158,  177,  275 

Social  evil,  the,  407 

Soldiers  and  Sailors,  221 

Special  privileges,  176 

Suffrage,  158,  176,  197,  223,  247, 
275,   406 

Tariff,  218,  246,  275,  406 

Taxation,  218,  246,  276 

Transportation  and  travel,  158, 176 

Trusts,  276,  364 

Union,  maintenance  of,  175,  194 

Union,    Woman's   Christian    Tem- 
perance, 222 

Young  People's   Prohibition 
Leagues,  369 

Woman    suffrage    (see    also    Suf- 
frage), 197,  218,  223,  275,  369 


Independent  National  (Greenback),  Greenback, 
Greenback  National,  Anti-Monopoly,  National 
People's,  People's  Party,  Silver  Party,  National 
Party,  and  People's  Party  (Middle-of-the-Road). 


Agriculture,  175,  225 
Allen  ownership,  of  land,  prohibi- 
tion of,  216,  284,  308,  355,  359 
of  franchises,  359 
Amendments  to  constitution,  216, 

217,  282,  321 

Abolition    of    contract-labor    sys- 
tem, 216,  321 
of  child-labor,  216 
of  indirect  taxation,  216 
Admission  of  Territories,  309,  853, 
300 


Arbitration  between  employer  and 

employed,  225 
Arid  lands,  361 

Army,  opposition  to  Increase  of,  193 
Ballot,  284,  309,  335 
Banks,    postal    savings,    283,    307, 

350 

Bimetallism,  3.17 

Bonds,  175,  191,  281,  307,  311,  348 
Burllngauie  Treaty,  abrogation  of, 

192 
Canal,  Nicaragua,  359 


(31) 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Civil  rights,  334 
Civil  service,  283,  358 
Class  legislation,  192 
Coercion  and  Intimidation,  352 
Congressional  committees,  193,  216 
Contract  labor.    See  Labor 
Corporations  (see  also  Monopolies), 

191,  192,   224,  283 
Cuba,  309,  361 
Currency,   174,   175,   191,   215,   281, 

283,  307,  312,  321,  348,  355 
Republican  law,  effect  of,  357 

repeal  of,  358 
new  law  proposed.  358 
Debt,  public,  215,  281,  312 

bonded,  225 

Direct  legislation,  favored,  359 
Economy  in  public  expenses,  224 
Endorsement      of     nominees      of 

Democratic  Party,  313 
Eight-hour  day,  192,  225,  284 
Enfranchisement,     193.    See     also 

Ballot 

Equal  rights,  burdens,  etc.,  224 
Expansion,  commercial.  361 
Finance,    174,    191,    215,    216,    283, 

311,  321,  348 
Free  silver,  283,  307,  311,  321,  349, 

355 

Gold  standard,  the,  311,  312,  348 
Gold  and  Silver,  192,  281,  283,  307, 

311,  313,  321,  349,  355,  357 
Government    ownership    of    rail- 
roads, telegraphs,  etc.,  216,  283, 

284,  307,    308,    321,    350,    355, 
361,  404 

Home  rule,  in  territories  and  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  309,  353 

Homesteads,  309,  350 

Hours  of  labor,  192 
reduction  of,  216,  284 

Immijpration,    192,    284,    322,    352, 
362 

Imperialism,  351 

Income  tax,  192,  216,  225,  283,  284, 
307.  349,  355,  358 

Initiative    and    referendum,     285, 
309,  322,  350,  354,  403 

Injunctions,  in  labor  troubles,  309, 
352 

Interstate  Commerce,  192,  216,  224 
bill,  22.^   404 


Labor,  216,  284,  309,  403 
child,  192,  403 
contract,  192,  216,  225,  284 
union  of,  283 
Land.    See  Public  Land* 
Legal    tender,    174,    191,    215,    281, 

283,  307,  311,  321 
Militarism,  351,  402 
Money  and  banks,  402 
Monopolies,    192,    215,    224,    308, 

350,   402 

Monroe  Doctrine,  359 
Municipal  ownership.  352 
Pensions;  217,  284,  309,  321,353,359 
Philippine  Islands,  360 
Pinkerton  Detectives,  284 
Popular   vote,    to   elect   President 

and    Vice-President,    285,    blft), 

321,  352,  355 
to  elect  Senators,  225,  285,  309, 

321,  352,  355,  358 
Porto  Rico,  351,  360 
Postal  savings  banks,  283 
Preamble,  174,  280.   308,  348,  354 
Principles  of  the  forefathers,  357 
Prohibition,  320 
Public  Lands,    192,    215,   225,    309, 

321,  350,  361 
Re-eligibility     of     President     and 

Vice-President,  285 
Resumption  act,  repeal  of,  174 
Sabbath,  321 
Schools,  public,  321 
Sectionalism,  193,  217 
Senators,  reduction  of  terms  of,  216 
election  by  the  people,  225,  285, 

309,  321,  352,  355,  358 
Silver,175.  See  also  Gold  and  Silver 
Subsidies,  285 
Suffrage,    without   regard   to  sex, 

193,  217,  320 
Sympathy  for  Cuba,  309 
for  the  Boers,  351,  360 
Tariff.  216,  225,   321 

Porto  Rican.  351,  360 
Trusts,  350,  355,  359 
Union,  maintenance  of,  282 
War  policy  condemned,  351 
War  taxes,  repeal  of,  360 
War,  when  .Instifled  and  when  im- 
moral, 361 
Waterways,  225 


Labor  Platforms. 


Abolition     of     Presidency.     Vice- 
Presidency,  Senate,  286,  335 
of  veto  power  of  the  executive, 
325 

Amnesty,  156 

Arbitration  between  employee  and 
employer,  250 


Ballot,  325 

Australian  system,  254,  286 
Banks,  postal  savings,  250 
Bonds,  252 
Civil  Service,  156 
Corporations,  156,  253.  324 
Courts,  procedure  of,  254 


SUBJECT  INDEX. 


Currency,  154,  250,  285,  324 
Debt,  154,  155,  250 
Direct  vote,  286,  325 
Education,  286,  325 
Eight-hour    day.     See    Hours  of 

Labor 

Elections,  286,  325 
Employers'  liability  law,  286,  325 
Finance,  154,  250,  285,  324 
Government    ownership    of     rail- 
roads, etc.,  250,  253,  285,  324 
Government  control  over  railroads 
and  telegraph  corporations,  156 
Homestead  laws,  250 
Hours  of  labor,  155,  250,  253,  285, 

324 

Immigration,  155,  251 
Income  tax,  250,  286,  325 
Initiative  and  referendum,  286 
Labor,  250,  252,  253,  286,  324 

Chinese,  155 

contract,  155,  251,  253 

wages,  250,  286,  325 

for  the  unemployed,  325 
Inventions,  286,  325 
Lands    (see    also     Public     Lands) 
farming,  252 

taxation  of,  252 


Laws   for   the   protection   of   em- 
ployees, 286,  325 
uniform  civil  and  criminal,  286, 325 

Legal  tender,  154,  250,  253 

Monopoly,  251 
land,  249 

Municipal  ownership  of  municipal 
franchises,  285,  324 

Patent  laws,  156,  286,  325 

Pensions,  250 

Popular  election  of  Senators,  251 

Preamble,  154,  249,  252,  324 

Principles,     cardinal,     of    govern- 
ment, 155 
of  Socialist-Labor  Party,  323 

Public  Land,  155,  249,  285,  324 

Railroads,  156,  253 

Re-ellgiblllty  of  the  President,  156 

Schools,  public,  286,  325 

Suffrage,  251,  286 

Surplus,  253 

Tariff,  155 

Taxation  on  inheritances,  286,  325 

Transportation,  250,  285,  324 

Trusts,  251 

Waterways,  285,  324 

Woman  suffrage,  251,  286 


Platforms  not  indexed  by  subjects. 


American  (Know-Nothing), 

1856     101-102 

Constitutional  Union,  1860 117 

Radical  Republican,  1864 127 

Straight-Out  Democratic.  1872.148 

American  National,  187<1 178 

Equal     (or    Woman's    Rights), 

1884    227 

American,  1888    255 


Farmers'  Alliance,  1890 278 

National      (Gold)      Democratic, 

1896    .314 

Social     Democratic     (U.     S.), 

1900     ...870 

1904     409 

Social   Democratic,    1900    .    ...372 

Soria 1 1st    Labor,    1904 407 

Union    Reform,    1900    375 


(38) 


ELECTORAL  VOTE. 


Alabama 11 

Arkansas 9 

California 10 

Colorado 5 

Connecticut 7 

Delaware 3 

Florida 5 

Georgia 13 

Idaho 3 

Illinois 27 

Indiana 15 

Iowa 13 

Kansas 10 

Kentucky 13 

Louisiana 9 

Maine 6 

Maryland 8 

Massachusetts 16 

Michigan 14 

Minnesota 11 

Mississippi 10 

Missouri 18 

Montana 3 


Nebraska 8 

Nevada 3 

New  Hampshire 4 

New  Jersey 12 

New  York 39 

North  Carolina 12 

North  Dakota 4 

Ohio 23 

Oregon  4 

Pennsylvania 34 

Rhode  Island 4 

South  Carolina 9 

South  Dakota 4 

Tennessee 12 

Texas 18 

Utah 3 

Vermont 4 

Virginia 12 

Washington 5 

West  Virginia 7 

Wisconsin 13 

Wyoming 3 


Total,  476.    Necessary  to  a  choice,  239. 


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